Chris Goodwin :: Speak on it! the Blog

Group Photography [Basic Tips]

That Guy — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 21:26:54 +0000

If you are going to take a group photo fora wedding, birthday, or any special occasion these basic tips should help you.

Before the shot have everybody tilt their heads up slightly
To make sure everybody is in the shot say “If you can’t see the camera it can’t see you”
If your group is deep from the first row to the last then use a large aperture to get everybody in focus.
Come prepared and know what you want out of the shots so you can keep everybody organized. Once you loose control it’s hard to get everybody back on the same page.
If you have a BIG group get high. Use a ladder or stand on something to elevate your height.
Use basic 3 point lighting techniques but on a larger scale to get a standard lit shot but try to use as much natural light as possible.
Try different angles (getting higher is a gold standard for making your shot look better) and take multiple shots. If you have two cameras have one on a tripod and the other free for quick additional shots.
Do a google image search for group photos and see what you like and try to recreate.

Hope these tips help. If you have any additional ones drop a line below!

iPhone ‘Add to Home Screen’ Custom Icon

That Guy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:33:27 +0000

When you bookmark your website on an iPhone or iTouch by default it takes a screen shot of the current page. If you want to add a custom icon follow these simple steps!

1) Create an image 129x129px 72dpi. This is the correct size! Other website debate the actual size, but for top quality and crispness use 129px by 129px. Make sure to save it as a PNG. (in photoshop go to ‘Save For Web & Devices’)

2A) In the head “” of your website add this code:

2B) You can also just drop an image named “apple-touch-icon.png” in your root directory and it will work the same.

That’s it. Now on your iDevice add your site to the home page and boom!

CSUN Drops Swim Program!

That Guy — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:21:56 +0000

Cal State Northridge drops swimming program

Citing ongoing state budget woes, Cal State Northridge Athletic Director Rick Mazzuto has discontinued the men’s and women’s swim teams. It’s the first time since the Matadors cut football in 2001 that the school has discontinued a sports team. Mazzuto said the school will drop from 20 to 18 sports offered.

He said the school will eventually save $300,000 a year when swimming scholarships are phased out. LINK

Programs like this promote future leaders, team development, discipline… Who else thinks this is hodgepodge?! If you feel the same way Speak Your Mind below! Also, I was part of this program and on scholarship, it’s hard for me to believe that it will be saving $300,000a year, not sure where that’s coming from….

iPhone Apps Wont Open – Fix

That Guy — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:43:50 +0000

If you are having a problem where you iPhone apps open for a second then close on you, read on for the solution! The reason the apps keep opening for a second then closing is because you iPhone doesn’t think they have been ‘Authorized’. All you have to do is tell the iPhone “Hey foo these are Authorized Apps!” and to do this simply:

Hook up your iPhone to your computer
In iTunes (in the main menu on the top) go to Store > Authorize Computer
Enter your user info and authorize the computer
Sync your iPhone after you have authorized your computer – That’s it!

As soon as the Sync is done your phone should now understand that your apps are authorized and the problem should be fixed. If not please add a comment below so we can explore further.

CSS Box Model

That Guy — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:44:55 +0000

If you are learning CSS the Box Model is one of the first things you should learn and w3schools provides a perfect example. All HTML elements can be considered as boxes. In CSS, the term “box model” is used when talking about design and layout.

The CSS box model is essentially a box that wraps around HTML elements, and it consists of: margins, borders, padding, and the actual content.

The box model allows us to place a border around elements and space elements in relation to other elements.

The image below illustrates the box model:

Explanation of the different parts:

Margin – Clears an area around the border. The margin does not have a background color, and it is completely transparent
Border – A border that lies around the padding and content. The border is affected by the background color of the box
Padding – Clears an area around the content. The padding is affected by the background color of the box
Content – The content of the box, where text and images appear

In order to set the width and height of an element correctly in all browsers, you need to know how the box model works.

Business Models for Starting a FREE Business Online

That Guy — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:31:04 +0000

When it comes to starting a business online 99% of people expect everything to be free (thanks google…). In this post I will briefly go over the two popular business models for starting a ’FREE’ business online and how to convert free into dollars and cents.

1. Advertisement Driven Business

If you can produce content or a product that will get a lot of people to view or use with a minimal cost start up then advertisement is the route to go. Think of it as every person who reads or uses your product converts over to $1 a year (this person will probably consist of 100 or so visits a year, so the $1 is NOT equal to a visit but the impact one person will have). A great way to start advertising is to use Googles AdSense it allows you to quickly place ads around your content. The down side is that you have to share the revenue with Google. The other alternative (after you have a proven base roughly 30-60k views a month) is to venture out and find company’s that would benefit from your target audience. Look at competitor’s sites/blogs and see what company’s are advertising on their sites and contact them (and like companies). There are different variations on advertising online IE: Pay-Per-Click, Per-Impression… but I don’t want to go into those. I simply want to convey that if you build it, and they come… Toss some ads on there if you’re looking for some dollars and cents.

2. Premium Product

Another way of producing money, but also offering a free product is to have a stripped down version of your final product. IE: Only let people read half of your eBook, If its an image sharing site only allow free users to upload 10 images and where the premium (paid) version allows people access to the entire product/system. This is a good way to hook them in with the free version, and then show off the benefits they’re missing without the premium version. You could also put ads in the ‘free’ version and no ads in the premium version. There are a lot of ways to play with this model.

The difference between offering something for FREE and offering it for .01 is HUGE. People don’t have to think; don’t have to pull out their credit card… If all people have o do it click to use/view your product then you will start a base that you can then tailor to you ultimate goal > $$.

5 things I wish I learned in Business School. Plus … a smoking HOT blonde.

That Guy — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:32:17 +0000

Bob Parsons says it best, coming from a man who has been in the trenches. On his video blog he goes over 5 things that are not taught in school but are essential to every entrepreneur.

Start Small
1. You don’t have to go all in
2. Get a proven idea that works before ‘going all in’
3. Always have a fall back (IE: keep your day job)
The Best business Partner, Is no partner
1. Two heads are not better than one, right? Wrong!
2. Typically you will spend more time negotiating and compromising than working on the business.
3. You need one clear leader
Solve you own problems
1. You don’t need mentors
2. Solving your own problems will give you breakthrough advantages
Don’t fight fate
1. Once opportunities start to present themselves be prepared to act
2. IE: Yamaha started out only building pianos, now they build motorcycles and so on…
Do you feel lucky?
1. Luck plays a big part in success
2. Be prepared to take advantage of lucky breaks when they arise

Bonus Tip

Stay out of your comfort zone.

Peyton Manning – Funniest QB Ever?

That Guy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:11:19 +0000

There is no question that Peyton Manning is in some pretty funny commercials, but is he the funniest QB the NFL has ever seen? Is Brett Farve more funny? What about Joe Montana, Now I think I’m just talking jibberish… Mr. Manning and his funny bone:

Nice Stash!

Who can play a better air guitar? Gary hall Jr.?

Da… Bears!

This is a milk commercial, right?

Who is the funniest QB ever?

The Power Of Words – It’s How You Say It!

That Guy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:42:36 +0000

“Words create impressions, images and expectations. They build psychological connections. They influence how we think. Since thoughts determine actions, there’s a powerful connection between the words we use and the results we get.” —Nan S. Russell

I read an interesting post today by Michael Dalton Johnson where he goes over how you can stimulate people you talk and can easily convert day to day conversations into more sales by simple changing as little as one word in a phrase.

Successful salespeople know they will sell more by using positive language. Example: Instead of saying, “We can’t ship your order until next Tuesday,” they will say, “We can ship your order as early as next Tuesday.” Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes; which statement is more satisfactory?

Simply changing or adding a few words to a statement can make it more compelling. “You will get a full 30 percent discount,” blows away “We are offering a 30 percent discount.”

When you accentuate the positive and create imagery you will make more sales.

I had to smile when I read the creative imagery of a restaurant menu that offered, not simply “bacon and eggs” but, ” Two farm fresh eggs with country bacon.” It’s the same breakfast but one description sounds a lot more appetizing.

Which would sound better to a buyer? “Our product will save your company 2500 a month” or, “You will save your company 30,000 dollars a year with our product.” Obviously, the second statement is more attention-grabbing because 30,000 “dollars” is far more dramatic than 2500, even though they amount to the same savings. More importantly, “You will save your company…,” makes the buyer both intelligent and a hero. Buyers want to save money. Buyers like to make smart decisions. Buyers love to be heroes.

Because sales are all about what the buyer gets, “We offer excellent technical support” pales in comparison to “You will get world-class technical support.”

Instead of saying to a business owner, “Your employees will really appreciate this program,” consider saying with a smile, “Your employees will stand up and applaud you for giving them this program.” Don’t worry; the buyer will allow this bit of poetic license. Even though he/she knows the employees won’t really stand up and applaud, the mental image of them doing so is powerful.

The practice of using positive words and phrases will help you achieve more results than you ever thought possible. This skill is developed simply by using it. Start today with prospects, co-workers, family, and friends. You’ll begin to reap the rewards that come from accentuating the positive.

1 Critic Can Stand 100 Stories Higher Than 1000 Good Comments

That Guy — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:49:53 +0000

It’s always amazing to me how 1 critic can stand 100 stories higher than 1000 good comments… But that’s the way it is, right? Most people make negative remarks because they’re mad at themselves and its easier to point the finger at someone else than themselves. If somebody expects somebody else to bring them success, they have already failed.

What makes you happy? Think about it hard, and think it though, not just over a beer but day and night, it will come to you. Don’t be afraid to have to educate yourself a little bit to achieve this goal. Self education is the key to achieving happiness. Do that no questions.