You are cordially invited to my free, drop-in "Brainstorming Salons." They're held on the first Thursday evening of every month from 5-8PM in San Francisco, and on the last Wednesday evening of every month from 5-8PM in Palo Alto.

"What in the world is a Brainstorming Salon?" you ask...

It's an informal, drop-in get together of interesting folks at my loft in San Francisco, South of Market. Come by any time for as long or as short a time as you'd like.

It's a salon because it's meant to foster some interesting conversation.

And it's for brainstorming, too. But the brainstorming is totally optional and in many ways, it will be quite unobtrusive.

I love brainstorming with folks. It can open up whole new ideas. I love the infusion of creativity and solutions that a good brainstorming session can give.

But I don't want to require everyone to show up at a specific time, sit in a circle and brainstorm and then all go home at the same time.

So this is how it works:

Everyone who wants to (and you can certainly come to the salon and not participate in the brainstorming part at all) when they arrive at the salon, takes a sheet of paper and writes at the top of it something they'd like others to brainstorm about for them. It can be on anything--ideas, advice, leads, etc. You can do it anonymously or you can sign your name to it. Then you put your sheet on a wall in my loft.

Everyone else at the salon can then look at your sheet and if they have a brainstorm idea for you, they can write it on a Post It note and put it on your sheet. Those Post It ideas can be anonymous, too. Or not. It's up to you.

When you're ready to leave—after 15 minutes or after 4 hours or any time in between, just take your sheet home—with the Post It ideas people have put on it. You'll have fresh new ideas to think about and play with for any issue or situation you'd like.

You'll probably also have fun brainstorming ideas for others. And you may meet other folks dealing with similar situations to yours.

I'll have popcorn and wine at the salon. And if my inner Martha Stewart shows up (the pre-indictment Martha, that is), maybe I'll make something, too. (No promises...) If you'd like to bring something to snack on or to drink to share, that would be great. But it's certainly not required.

And please feel free to invite or bring any friends or significant others, too.

Hope you can make it! If you think you might be able to, shoot me an e-mail and let me know. And I'll send you the directions to my loft. And even if you won't know until the last minute if you can come, it's fine for you to come on by anyway.

— Betsy

< Back to News