A Planned Germination

Ideas swirl around my head like butterflies. The problem is, I'm a man without a net.  And if you've ever tried to catch a butterfly with only your hands, you know it's a difficult feat.

One of the issues of being a creative thinker, is figuring out which ideas to run with.  Because developing an idea, and executing it properly, requires time. Time, as you know, is the world's most valuable natural resource.

So as I sit here wondering which projects deserve more attention and which ones need to be shed,  I am forced to look into the mirror and squeeze out some honest answers.

-Do I have the time? No, Andrew, really...do you have the time?

-Is the idea sustainable?

-Do you have proof that there is an audience for the idea?

-What is my motivation for running with the idea?  Money? Art? Both?

Should I start a new blog or put in double-time on that novel?  Hone my photography skills or write more poetry? Heck, maybe I should sculpt those six-pack abs that I know are lurking underneath.  Or maybe I should just shut it all down for awhile and fix that leaky bathroom faucet that's driving my wife nuts.

Drip, drip, drip.

It's time to get prioritized.

6 Reasons I Am Thankful for Blogging

I tend to be extra thankful when I'm alone on the beach.I won’t lie: I am thankful for my life almost every hour of everyday. But that doesn’t make Thanksgiving any less special. In fact, I like to use the holiday to think about the “random” things that I am grateful for, aside from the obvious: health and family.

There’s the sound of the railroad horn in the distance. The laughter of a girl. Cherry Garcia FroYo. And there is blogging.

Call it a hobby. Call it a career. Call it a passion.  Here are some of the reasons why I am thankful for freelance blogging.

- Blogging Reignited My Passion to Write. Early this century my journalism degree was gathering dust. Caught up in a world where I was trying to establish a “career” for myself, I found little reason to write. But blogging opened up a door to a world of writing…without an editor. Freedom! My grammar might not be perfect, and spelling errors, well, yeah, they happen. But removing the hurdle of having someone change what I want to say…a huge score!

- Blogging Builds Relationships. They may not be part of my inner circle, but I have formed some valuable and fulfilling relationships thanks to blogging. I hear from people all around the world.  Some are insightful, others are opinionated, but all are engaged. This feeling of connectedness is important to me in a somewhat disconnected world.

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How Many Andrew Rosens Are There?

How many Andrew Rosens are there? Well I'm glad you asked. There are 71 in the United States alone. That means if I want to establish my name as my brand, the odds are already stacked against me.  And from what it seems, all of these Andrew Rosens are pretty darn successful, thus stealing my search engine thunder.

So in case you stumbled upon this website randomly, let me clear the air about who I am and who I'm not.

I am not Andrew Rosen, the CEO of theory, the popular apparel line. Nor do I own a big chunk of Proenza Schouler.

I AM a writer and freelance blogger who loves taking on new and exciting challenges.

I am not Andrew Rosen, the president of Kaplan, the SAT prep and education outlet.

I AM a digital content manager who understands social media and the latest Web technologies.

I am not Andrew Rosen, the Arizona-based orthodontist (though I did once wear braces).

I AM a person who thrives on creativity, but understands how to manage the bureaucracy of business.

I am not Andrew Rosen, producer of fine movies such as Cinderella Man and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

I AM a New York-based Shiba Inu owner who strives for equanimity.

Sharing a name with others does have it's benefits.  For example, when an ex-girlfriend or nosy coworker seeks me out, I know they had to put in a bit of effort to track me down (you know who you are!).  It also alleviates the pressure of having to produce a male to "carry on the family name." Cause let's be honest, the name Rosen isn't going anywhere.

So now you know a little about THIS Andrew Rosen. If you are an Andrew Rosen too, I'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.

The Notebook: Always and Forever

As much as I rely on Evernote, Google Docs, and other cloud-based writing programs, I will always be a notebook guy.  

Here's the reason why.  

A trip down to the basement last night uncovered my old high school loose-leaf.  Littered with band names from yesteryear (Ned's Atomic Dustbin!) and random notes of youthful silliness, the denim-lined binder was able to conjure up feelings inside of me that a flat electronic screen never could.  I can touch it and be transported back to the 10th grade. Thumbing through the pages I can recall what it felt like to skip out on the prom; I can smell the sauerkraut stench of the school cafeteria...

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Coming Soon

If you are reading this, by now you have figured out that I own several blogs and write for several other blogs.  So why not make room for one more!  Over the past few weeks I've been coming up with content ideas that don't seem to have a natural habitat.  So here it is, my latest zoo exhibit.  In this space you'll find some blogging tips, personal observations, and an array of other (hopefully interesting) stuff.  I will also shamelessly promote my other projects, using this blog as a bento box to neatly assemble the Web life of Andrew Rosen. I genuinely hope you'll check in every now and then to see what I'm up to. Subscribe here.