I saw this picture in a store window recently and it reminded me of a conversation I had last spring with a new prospect. They were planning to use a
I don’t tell this story often (because it kind of makes me look like an idiot), but I’m going to share it here, if only to show how far I’ve
I love this quote, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s a good approach to research. One company I work with has a promise on their website that they will
I like to give an overview of my work every now and then, just to remind everyone how interesting it is! Here are the projects I’m working on right now:
Every time I talk to someone who only sees me on Facebook, they say some variation of the same thing: “Your life looks amazing! I can tell your business is
I try not to play favorites with my clients, but there are some who I am really, really delighted to be working with. Here are a few things they do
It’s that time again…q3 is over and I’m reporting on my progress towards my annual goals. Make more money than last year– and make money every month. Yes! This year
In September 2008, I boldly ventured out of the cubicle and into the unknown land of freelancing. There have been a few downs, but mostly ups, and I absolutely love
Last week I went to moderator training at RIVA. It’s one of the best known training centers for qualitative researchers, and I’d been wanting to go for several years (and
I give a lot to my clients, and I never like to say no. An old boyfriend once told me, “I think if I caught on fire when you were
I only drink decaf coffee. I know, this is terrible and tragic and I’m obviously not living life to the fullest. But bear with me. When I order decaf, in
After a fun summer of teaching Questionnaire Design at the University of Michigan, I’m on an education high and excited to get the word out about doing great research. I’ll be
As a survey methodologist who spends a lot of time working in the “real world,” my philosophy is always: Respondents first. Respondents’ comfort and satisfaction with the survey experience should
I like to give my loyal readers occasional updates of all my exciting activities and adventures in the research trenches… I’ve been in Ann Arbor, Michigan this summer, teaching a
I’ve been teaching Questionnaire Design at the University of Michigan’s Summer Institute in Survey Research Techniques, and I’m finding it hugely fun for a few reasons: 1. My students are
This piece about putting a toddler to bed in 100 easy steps has been making the rounds lately, and it makes me think about the process I’ve been going through with a
As Q2 wraps up and the year is half over (!!), I wanted to check in on my 2014 goals. Make more money than last year—and make money every month. Still
A few weeks ago, I was pondering (ok, complaining about) how hard it is to be a one-person show, and how, as a solopreneur, I do e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g from offering high level
Like many people, I was saddened by the passing of author Maya Angelou last week. After her death, I learned that she had once been a market research interviewer. In A
Summer is my favorite season, and I’m always happy when Memorial Day kicks it off. To start my summer off even better, this year my Red Cross client got some great media
Recently, an acquaintance learned that I had my own business and asked me, “Are you a doer or a seller?” I had to explain that as a solopreneur, I’m both,
My parents came to New Orleans to visit this weekend. (That’s them in 1966!) My dad, himself an entrepreneur, and my mom, a logistics and problem-solving whiz, have been two
David Letterman is on his way out, but in his honor, here’s a top 10 list. 1. Getting locked in a strange Indian family’s bathroom after an in-home interview. The respondent
“How do you get your clients?” This is one of the most common questions I hear. I don’t advertise or have booths at trade shows or send out direct mail.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: everybody needs research. I love the diversity of companies and topics I get to work on. Lately I’ve done research for professional associations
I found a journal I kept while working on an evaluation of two residential drug treatment facilities. Some excerpts: March 2002: Just finished my first week! The director of the facility said
A few weeks ago I wrote about one of my early jobs, interviewing inmates in maximum security prisons. I loved interviewing, but it was only part of what I did at
I’m on my way back from Portland, where I spent two days at a fantastic conference of independent workers: freelancers, entrepreneurs, and other intrepid souls like myself. Like most conferences, there were
I set 14 work goals for 2014. Here’s how I’m doing: Make more money than last year—and make money every month. So far, so good. Work for at least 5 existing
I moved to New Orleans last year, and I’ve just survived my first Mardi Gras! (That’s me on Mardi Gras day.) If you’ve never experienced it, Mardi Gras is a
One of my very first jobs was interviewing inmates in maximum-security prisons in New York State. It was part of an evaluation of a parenting class for male inmates, which
Last week I gave an overview of one of my favorite projects from last year, a global qualitative study on beverages. I thought you might like to see what a few days
One of my favorite projects in 2013 was a global study on beverages. The client wanted to know about the kinds of beverages people were making at home, as well as what
