Quick Hits of the Week

• So, here’s an interesting development. Due to changes in banking regulations, a lot of the once “free” services offered by your local bank’s checking account are now incurring monthly fees. Consumers are seeking safer and cheaper options, and retailers are more than willing to step up. Walmart is now offering a prepaid American Express card that works a lot like a credit or debit card. They’re accepted the same as a regular AmEx card,  can be used to withdraw cash from a network of ATMs or to “get roadside assistance, bank from their smartphones and, eventually, write checks out of an account linked to the card.” This has the banks worried, and rightfully so. The market might still bring some truth to the lie of being ‘too big to fail.’

• A while back, Michael Hyatt, former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing, and NYT best-selling author, released his new book Platform. I’ve thought about picking it up, but I was a bit intimidated by it. I can’t be Hyatt, and I doubt my road to success will look anything like his. In fact, the road to success gets lost in the brambles more often than not. Over at Hyatt’s blog, Lucille Zimmerman has a guest post talking about just these problems, and she offers six ways to stay focused when things get overwhelming. Numbers two and four nailed me. How about you?

• On tattoos: It doesn’t matter what your profession is, or what piece of skin needs a little art on it, it seems like everyone is getting a little (or a lot of) ink these days. Personally, I’m not interested, and my wife doesn’t want me to be interested (10 Marital Harmony Points earned). If I were, though, I would have to get something practical, and my first instinct would be one like this. However, given how often I find myself lost during sports conversations, maybe a tattoo of this would be more helpful.

• I’m getting a little tired of all the discussion of genetically modified food going around in hushed and sinister tones, like the world’s agricultural industry is out to poison all of it’s customers. I’m not saying there aren’t problems, but the benefits of GM crops are being way under-reported.  Remember, when it comes to the news, fear sells more ad space. We live in a better world than we’ve been led to believe.

• Of course, I write that and then I offer up this little slice of nightmare fuel. Enjoy.

Is there something valuable or important or cool or funny or weird or awesome out there I missed this week? I can’t hit it all, but you should let me know about it by dropping me a line or sharing it in the comments below! I’d appreciate the heads up.