You ever see those disconnected Gen Xers with their Blackberrys in tow, totally oblivious to the world around them? They're constantly on those damn phones texting or tweeting and making the rest of society question the direction of America's future. Yeah, I'm one of them. Without hesitation, one of the first things I do when I walk in the door of a place is pull my phone out and "check-in" on Foursquare. A lot of people say to me, "Bryan, I don't know why you waste your time with that. It's just an excuse for people to stalk you. And they know you're not home so they can go rob you!" Maybe, but I was born in 1986 - the year of the tiger - and that means I sometimes make poor, hasty decisions so it's not necessarily my fault. In all honesty though, foursquare is more than a stalker app. It's a great way to discover awesome places you didn't know existed or just learn new things about the places you've been a million times. I was in Kansas City a few weeks back and looking for somewhere to stuff my face with some French toast for breakfast so I jumped on foursquare. Within seconds it found my location, displayed the places around me and I was on my way to a 24-hour diner just two blocks away. Unfortunately, the French toast sucked so I was a little disappointed but I made sure to leave a tip warning future users of the tragedy. Foursquare also puts a new spin on what it means to be a regular. There are tons of examples out there of businesses offering discounts as a type of loyalty program when users reach a certain plateau of check-ins but perhaps the most intriguing part of Foursquare is the battle for mayorships. (The mayor of a particular place is the user with the most check-ins.) While being the mayor doesn't necessarily guarantee you anything other than maybe a free cup of coffee, it's the chase for the top spot that drives users to check-in. We've all got those places that we like to refer to as "ours." Foursquare just gives us a way to prove it. And maybe get some free stuff for our dedication. So how can businesses and marketers take advantage of the some 3 million of us nerds on Foursquare? Simply put, embrace it. Claim your business on foursquare and explore a rewards program. Think 10% off your bill with each check-in or a free pint of beer on your 10th. See what kind of tips and shouts people are leaving about your place for some honest feedback. If you've got an event coming up, such as a booth at a tradeshow for instance, create a listing and a badge to encourage people who stop by to check-in. It's a simple conversation starter and may help you at least look like you understand the digital era of marketing. If you're interested in joining Foursquare, check out foursquare.com on your mobile browser or search for it in your phones app store.

As a copywriter, there's no worse feeling than the dreaded writer's block. It's an unavoidable monster that will back you into a corner at the most inopportune times. Luckily there are plenty of ways to turn the tables on this ugly beast and get yourself back in the groove. Here are the five that work best for me. Shut Up - Distractions are everywhere and they are super annoying. Shut the door or put on some headphones, close out your e-mail application, turn off your cell phone and stay off the Internet. It's important to not let your mind wander too far, and constantly checking your inbox when a new message arrives can make it almost impossible to stay focused on the task at hand. Stay Late or Take It Home - Sometimes I just can't get it done during regular business hours. Staying late can be relaxing because of the peace and quiet, and you know as soon as you finish your day is seemingly over. Other times I just need a change of scenery to find my voice so I take my work to the comfort of my pajama pants and home turf. Exercise Your Brain - Anything that can stimulate your mind can really help get your writing stroke back. Whether it's a few games of Sudoku, a crossword puzzle or getting lost staring at art, putting your mind to work helps get you to focus, analyze situations and think critically. Get Social - If you're really struggling for some inspiration, jump onto Facebook or Twitter or just head over to the water cooler and find someone to talk to. You never know who or what kind of conversations will spur an idea, and with all the random content your friends post online there's bound to be something that can trigger an idea... unless your friends are really boring. Walk Away - When all else fails and I just can't seem to get it together, I have always found the best thing to do is just walk away. Weekends are great because you just free your mind and focus on everything but what you're trying to write. Coming back to it fresh and rejuvenated can really put things in perspective and help get your writing back on track.

Patience is one virtue I have never owned.   I am the guy standing in front of the microwave saying, "C'mon. Hurry up, dammit." I can't stand sitting at red lights. I dread sitting in a doctor's waiting room and I've even walked out if I've been sitting longer than a half-hour. Long lines for anything make me itch. I love speed. Fast cars. Drive-thru restaurants. High-speed Internet access. One of my favorite moments in life was flying in an F-16 at 550 mph -- only 500 feet above the ground. The notion that faster is better is not new. But in order to compete, companies today focus on the younger generation's craving for immediacy. If your mobile device takes five seconds longer to download than mine, your technology is archaic. If it takes you more than 10 seconds to send a text, you're ready for the retirement home. It's important to understand this mindset when developing marketing materials. Consumers don't have the time or patience to wade through copy-heavy ads or sites. They want the benefit now. If you don't get to the point quickly, they are gone. It's best to keep paragraphs short and use bullet points. Also, especially in Web copy, keep it conversational. The old way of over-the-top sales messages and corporate chest pounding are poison to today's consumer. Bugatti Veyron: 267 mph, 0-60 in 2.5 secs. 8 Liter W16 Engine with 1200 hp. Base price is $1,700,000.

I made some neat displays for my fellow co-workers and thought I would pass them on in case you know someone who is a big Grinch fan. You can make the display in three easy steps: 1. Buy a Grinch (Kohl's sells them for $5!) and put a Santa hat on top. 2. Wrap a box with a brick design, put some fake snow on top and place Grinch inside. 3. Make a Santa bag and stuff with presents. Add additional snow around the base to finish it off. EASY!