I talk to machines a lot more often these days.  I’ve been left with no choice… Whether at the grocery store, the gas pump, or the hardware store, I find myself in the following (maddening) conversation several times a week… [scan my first item] “Thank you for shopping at StuffMart,” chirps the monotone-yet-friendly female...

Every year, Entrepreneur Magazine releases its list of the top franchise opportunities in the United States. (Because RelyLocal isn’t a franchise, we’ll never be on this list…) Do you have a cool $10 Million burning a hole in your pocket? If so, the top franchise opportunity for 2012 is to start a Hampton Inn. Don’t have $10 million? No...

I was recently asked to present a rapid-fire 5-minute presentation at an “Ignite” event on Bainbridge Island (in the Seattle area).  If you haven’t been to an Ignite event, you should find one! If there isn’t one in your area, you should look into hosting one! Ignite events area a really great way to hear and share new (or old) ideas, always...

Caution: Monday Morning Soapbox I admit it, I’m an eavesdropper. I’m horrible about it and it makes Sunday brunch a little awkward for my poor wife, who has gotten used to that blank look in my eyes when I’m really listening to the people behind her, not her… Yesterday was no exception as I got to listen-in on the conversations of two couples...

It was disheartening to find out that as we were traveling through Washington to spread hope and cheer, just a few miles to the north, a group of feckless thugs were intent on creating chaos and fear.

There’s one big reason that I love my job. People. People from all walks of life, all socio-economic backgrounds, business owners, minimum wage workers – you name it! It is all of these people that weave the fabric of our communities, determining what the “culture” of a town might look like. Imagine you are Bryan and Gail of Fly-In’ Bean...

We are all getting a little spring fever around the office this week, so we let Hammy, the RelyLocal hamster, out of his cage today and found that he had a little message that he wanted to share. Note: We don’t really have a hamster, and doubt his/her name is Hammy. Share or Bookmark Hide...