Staying organized in life, let alone at work is a constant struggle for most of us. With each day feeling increasingly busier than the one before it, how do you manage to stay organized and control the flow of email, deadlines and projects? As a custom media company, deadlines, whether for editorial, production, or marketing projects are an integral and necessary part of our daily routines at Hammock. So how do we keep everything organized and on track?

When I asked other people at Hammock for the secret to their organizational approaches, here is what I heard:

Business networking guru Josh Hinds interviews Hammock Inc. CEO Rex Hammock on -- what else? -- networking. Rex and Josh discuss both in-person and online networking.

Key point from Rex -- you get what you give:

As with any relationship, building a business network starts with "getting involved" and "giving back."

When I look back over three decades of business, I can tell you that my most valuable connections came from serving on trade association or civic-related committees or boards.

Read the full interview.

Our CEO, Rex Hammock, has been blogging regularly since 2001. And he's made a bit of a name for himself out there in the blogosphere. [He kills us for saying stuff like this. No, not "blogosphere." Well, he doesn't like that either. But he doesn't like us bragging on him.]

Back to the bragging: Well recognized for his magazine and digital media savvy, Rex runs in some heady circles, at least via the Rexblog. So we weren't surprised to see that Junta42's Top Content Marketing Blogs list ranks the Rexblog as #13. Lucky 13, I say.

Rex wrote an interesting post today on the term content marketing. He takes a little issue with the semantics, but don't be alarmed. If Hammock Inc. can help you tell your story, the rest of us don't care what you call it.

First, a word about our lingo. For as long as I've worked here, it seems we've had at least two people with the same name, even though we're not a Fortune 500 company. Currently on the Hammock Inc. staff, we have Barbara M. [Mathieson] and Barbara L. [Logan], Megan G. [Goodchild] and Megan P. [Pacella], Patrick B. [Burns] and Patrick R. [Ragsdale], and honorable mentions Kerri [Davis] and Carrie [Wakeford]. So we throw those last initials around from time to time. [Contrary to popular belief, it's not necessary for you to be named after one of the rest of us to be the next member of the Hammock team.]

But today we're talking about Barbara M. We have always been proud of her ongoing environmental efforts -- animals and our earth have no greater friend than Barbara. Now comes the news that Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has appointed Barbara to a two-year term on the Metropolitan Beautification and Environment Commission. Barbara's councilman Bo Mitchell nominated her for the position, because of her concern about the illegal dumping of trash in the southwestern part of Davidson County.

The mayor even threw in some mad props for Barbara in his appointment notice:

"Nashville is indeed fortunate to have citizens like you who are willing to volunteer their unique talents and sacrifice their time for our community," said Dean.

We couldn't agree more. Way to go, Barbara M.!

It's no secret that Hammock founder/CEO Rex Hammock is quick to volunteer as a lab rat when it comes to experimenting with any shiny new digital media.

So it surprised no one around here yesterday when the Nashville Tennessean ran a story about his use of Twitter.com during Tuesday night's New Hampshire election returns. The story was based on his post about the topic that appeared on his shiny new People page -- as well as on his vintage weblog, Rexblog.com, which he started nearly eight years ago.

Our new People pages are quickly becoming a very popular part of Hammock.com -- and certainly the most history-making. Today, for example, editorial director Jamie Roberts posted a fascinating item about how she interviewed her father recently at the award-winning family-history recording project StoryCorps, which now has a booth at the Nashville Public Library. Hammock editor Bill Hudgins wrote about his speech today regarding American Spirit magazine at a Franklin, Tenn., chapter of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. And speaking of historic events, Hammock president/coo John Lavey posted his first post ever -- as in anywhere. Will wonders never cease?

The Feb 25, 2006, edition of the Wall Street Journal, had an article called "Who's Going to Want Grandma's Hoard of Antique Gnomes?" Well, apparently none of grandma's grandchildren will, according to the article. So we asked Hammockfolk what was taking up room in their attic and if they had any plans for it?

Lena: When I was younger, I used to collect trolls. I have about 100. Any takers?

Bill: Since we already have pretty much all our folks' stuff, it's up to us to sell them on eBay. Collections - broadly defined as things we have a fair number of - include crosscut saws, plow horse harnesses, various kinds of glassware, canning jars, aprons, and rubber ducks. My goal is to have it all labeled before I die.

Megan: Lately it seems that I am collecting Macintosh computers and stray cats (the latter is not so much by choice).

Julia: I collect old glass items. When I was in high school, my best friend's mother sparked my interest in Depression Glass and I purchased quite a few pieces. They are all pale green, in the Princess pattern, made by the Hocking Glass Company from 1931 to 1935. I also inherited two Carnival Glass vases and two Cobalt Blue glass vases that were my grandmother's and great grandmother's. One of the Cobalt Blue vases is my oldest piece. When my grandmother was a young girl, she remembered her mother having it. My grandmother was born in 1888.

None of it is very valuable, but I really love it all. It looks beautiful in my lighted bookcases and the inherited pieces are priceless to me. My daughter is sentimental and may well keep a few pieces, but I imagine some of it may end up on Ebay someday.

Shannon: I collect manger scenes, smaller ones mostly which I display only at Christmas. My favorites are a wool one from Brazil, a hand-carved wooden one from Zimbabwe, and one where different dog breeds represent those present at the manger (black lab is Joseph, yellow lab is Mary, German Shepherd is an angel, etc).

A weird coincidence is that my mother-in-law collects them too. We both started our collections long before we met. Since she has three boys who could care less about Christmas decorations, guess I'll be inheriting her manger scenes.

Patrick R: I collect fountain pens. That's it, just pens. Lorraine collects stamps. Our family members don't collect anything as far was we know.

My grandmother did have a small collection of beanie babies before she died. One year she was convinced that someone had broken into her home and had taken them, sometime around Thanksgiving. She even had the police come by and filled out a report. She was living in Indianapolis, and we were in Tennessee so my folks were kind of worried but were also a bit incredulous. She was well know for her absent mindedness. We visited her for Christmas as we had done every year since relocating to Gallatin. Dad handed her a package that none of us recognized which she opened with excitement. She didn't recognize it either. Lo and behold, when she removed the paper and opened the box, 4 little beanie babies were looking up at her. That burglar had broken back into her apartment and put the beanies in a gift box under her tree!

John: Not a collector. Used to collect baseball cards.

Allison: About 10 years ago, I started collecting antique French Limoges plates, the really old, truly authentic ones. Didn't get very far as most are expensive. I have 4, so that probably doesn't qualify as a "collection". My great grandfather was friends with Artus Van Briggle, an artist who did a lot of pottery and ceramics. He had many of his original works, which then went to my grandfather, and are now with my father. I am looking forward to receiving these pieces, as they are really nice and most would carry a pretty hefty price tag.

My mother collects chicken and rooster themed items. I'm not looking forward to receiving any of that. I see a yard sale in the distant future.

Summer: My current favorite thing to collect is etiquette books. I have about 14 books in my collection right now, the oldest of which was published in 1884. It's great to read back and see how much things have changed. And as you might guess, they books on proper etiquette have gotten thinner through the years. Cole and I also collect coins. This is something my grandafther got me interested in when I was young. He'd have me keeping my eyes open for, say, a 1955 nickel minted in Denver, and as soon as one of us would find it, he'd give me another assignment.

Natalie: When my in-laws die, the amount of collectibles they have is too overwhelming to explain. I'm not sure they even know what they have hoarded at their home over the past 30 years. Then the glass shop has junk from when Jason's great-great-grandfather owned it. It ranges from sports collectibles to fishing lures, dolls, antiques, duck decoys, photos, tools. You name it they have it. They are the world's best hoarders. As a result, I've forbidden Jason to collect anything.

Emily: Anytime someone brings me flowers, I dry them and put them in vases. So I guess you could say that I collect dead flowers. I also collect postcards, strawberry-themed stuff for my kitchen and beach-themed stuff for my bathroom. My mom collects angel figurines, and my grandmother collects hummingbird stuff.

Laura: I collect the Metropolitan Museum's sterling silver snowflake ornaments. I have 14 of them, going back to 1992. I recently discovered the series started the year I was born, so I've set up an eBay search to help me find older ones. Of course, the older ones are even more expensive!

I'm not sure if you would call this "collecting" since there's no defined parameters for a set, but I have about 80 cookbooks and am always on the lookout for more. I actually use individual books throughout the collection fairly frequently.

That's pretty much it. When you say "collection," I hear, "something that needs dusting."

Jamie: I collect fireman Christmas ornaments. Not a surprise for those who know me.

Barbara: I tried collecting stuff (bird figurines, bird Christmas ornaments or pennies) in the past, but I lost interest. I still have my vinyl LPs. I also have a few pieces of golden oak furniture from the turn of the last century. Over the past few years, Ive become a minimalist. When you get older, stuff just doesnt seem to matter, especially when you have to clean out a dead parents house. My mom never threw anything away, and she had about a six months supply of toilet paper, cereal, canned goods, etc., always on hand. Shes been dead 2 1/2 years, and we just used the last light bulb from her stash.

1. Jan. 10 is Hammock Day for you. How long have you been with Hammock Publishing?
I started Jan. 10, 2000, so this is my sixth year.

2. What do you remember most about your first day at Hammock?
Well, at the Monday meeting, after being introduced, Will Weaver spilled my coffee and I thought "this is not a good start." However, later that day our creative director did ask me to retouch one of the covers to Connect magazine. The issue was promoting a show on the Sports Illustrated swimsuit models, and the cover image was a far cry from what I did previously, which was a magazine on business relocation.

3. If you didn't work at Hammock Publishing, what do you think you would be doing?
I've always had a passion for cooking. If I wasn't an art major in school, then I would have gone to culinary school.

4. What was your favorite cartoon growing up?
The Bugs Bunny and Road Runner show.

5. What CD do you have in your truck right now?
Boston's first album and Blues Brothers' Briefcase Full of Blues.

6. What was your most memorable day at Hammock?

I will admit working at Hammock has some GREAT perks. First I would have to say the day that Hammock employees were invited to the Nashville Speedway to participate in the Farve/Jarrett driving experience. Lucky for me, we promoted the school in one of our magazines. I got to drive 10 laps in a NASCAR racecar, and they even had a video camera in the car where they tape you driving. I purchased the tape for evidence. That was a great experience.

A close second is being able to go to the CMA awards at the Grand Old Opry.

7. What's your favorite reality TV show?
Would you ever participate? The Apprentice. Yeah I'd give it a shot, but I don't think I'd ever live in New York city though.

8. If you could travel this summer to any country in the world, where would you go?
Well if it was up to my wife and me, we would both say Australia, however, I have always wanted to visit the Emerald Isle, go figure!

9. Where did you grow up?
Westfield, Mass., and yes I do miss a good snow once in a while.

10. If you could switch places with any other Hammock employee for one day, who would it be and why?
Bill Hudgins, because he's got a way with words.

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1. Jan. 10 is Hammock Day for you. How long have you been with Hammock Publishing?
I've been with Hammock for one year.

2. What do you remember most about your first day at Hammock?
Just how friendly and relaxed everyone was. The vibe was casual and it took me a little while to get used to it. I couldn't believe you could bring in CD's and listen to music and that it was encouraged! Where I worked before they had to know your every move and it was a very uptight place.

3. If you didn't work at Hammock Publishing, what do you think you would be doing?
I would be an art restoration expert at one of the great museums in Paris; or a seamstress at one of the fashion houses in Paris. As you can tell, whatever it would be, it would be in Paris.

4. What was your favorite cartoon growing up?
Bugs Bunny.

5. What CD do you have in your car right now?
The CD currently being played in my car is "Du & Jag Doden" by a Swedish band called Kent. The lyrics are in Swedish, but the music is so cool it doesn't matter.

6. What was your most memorable day at Hammock?
Since I've only been here a year, I guess so far the most memorable day was my first day.

7. What's your favorite reality TV show? Would you ever participate?
I don't watch much reality tv, but every year I find myself getting sucked into American Idol. I would never participate as I cannot sing and I would end up on the horrible outtake clips.

8. If you could travel this summer to any country in the world, where would you go?
Well, I'm traveling this spring to Italy, which is a country I have never been to before, but aside from there I would say Norway. My father-in-law's family is from Norway and they still have a family farm and relatives there in a little town outside of Oslo. Erik has been there before, but I'm hoping that we can plan a trip there soon.

9. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Florence, Ala. It's only about 2 1/2 hours from Nashville.

10. If you could switch places with any other Hammock employee for one day, who would it be and why?
Susie Garland. She gets to be involved in everything creative, of course as the Creative Director, so it would be interesting just to see what her day would be all about. Plus, I just think she is a cool person.

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All the presents under the Hammock tree are for Bill Hudgins today as he celebrates 12 years with Hammock Publishing. While he ripped through the paper and ribbons with the vim of a six-year-old, I solicited his Hammock history with a few questions

1. Dec. 15 is Hammock Day for you. How long have you been with Hammock Publishing?
12 years, longer than anyone else except Rex. I believe I am also the oldest employee, at 56-plus.

2. What do you remember most about your first day at Hammock?
I knew just about everyone here  I had worked with most of them at Buntin Public Relations before Hammock Publishing was founded, and had also done a bit of freelance work here a few months earlier. But what struck me was the aura of freedom, empowerment and creativity  for example, we were encouraged to investigate this weird new thing called the Internet. It was really like coming home after a long journey.

3. If you didnt work at Hammock Publishing, what do you think you would be doing?
Working for LandLine Magazine, a trucking publication produced by the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association. I write a column for them and occasional feature articles.

4. What was your favorite cartoon growing up?
Rocky and Bullwinkle: For better or (most would say) worse, it shaped my sense of humor and verbal skills.

5. What was your most memorable day at Hammock?
The second most memorable was just after midnight on the Sunday before Memorial Day 1998, when I was in Washington, D.C., covering the annual Rolling Thunder Parade honoring POWs and MIAs from our wars for a trucking magazine we published then called Road King. A freelancer named Mike Perry was with me and we were at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Later that morning, my wife joined us, and we rode with some 250,000 motorcyclists through the streets of DC. The next day I laid a wreath at The Wall on behalf of truckers. It was one of the most moving experiences I have ever had, and still makes my eyes mist over.

The most memorable was an occasion we dont talk about much here, but that changed the companys direction  for the better.

6. Whats your favorite reality TV show? Would you ever participate?
The only reality show I ever watched, and I use the term advisedly, was Dancing With the Stars. I watched that because I started learning ballroom dance earlier this year. Yeah, Id give it a shot.

7. Where did you go to college?
Columbia University in New York City.

8. Where did you grow up?
Victoria, Va., a very small town about 65 miles southwest of Richmond. We have an accent there that sounds a lot like Canadian  dog becomes doag, house hohse, that sort of thing. They used to grow a lot of tobacco, and when I was a young child in the '50s, the now-vanished Virginian Railroad was the big employer. I havent been back in years.

9. What was the last book you read? Last magazine you read cover to cover?
I mostly read audiobooks. The most recent was Ann Patchetts Bel Canto, which I decided to read after she emceed the Nashville Area Literacy Council Spelling Bee that Hammocks team won. I had also read her Patron Saint of Liars a while back and enjoyed that. Magazine? Hmm, thats hard. I rarely read all of any magazine. Family Handyman probably comes closest as the most recent.

10. If you could switch places with any other Hammock employee for one day, who would it be and why?
Its a toss-up between Rex Hammock, so I could understand more about the stuff he blogs, and Carrie Wakeford, because she is an artist and I would like to know what it feels like to be able to do the kinds of work she does.

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October is a busy month so far for Hammock Days. What's a Hammock Day you might ask Well, it's the anniversary that each of us joined the Hammock team. Oct. 14 was that day for John Lavey, so we played a game of 20 questions, well, 10 actually.

1. October 14 was Hammock Day for you. How long have you been with Hammock Publishing? Nine years.

2. What do you remember most about your first day at Hammock? I started the same day as Anne Ray (formerly Crump), who worked at Hammock for several years and now works in San Francisco. She became a good friend. On that day, I remember thinking that the offices were much quieter than a newspaper newsroom, where I had come from.

3. If you didn't work at Hammock Publishing, what do you think you would be doing? Hmm. Probably teaching literature and coaching track and cross country at a public school. With plenty of time left for my house full of girls (Hannah, my wife, and Frances and Mary Sparks, my daughters), and hobbies like running, travel and bird hunting. That, or Vandy divinity school.

4. What was your favorite cartoon growing up? On TV, there was a Japanese cartoon called Kimba the White Lion, which I watched back in the '70s. It was basically the same story as today's Lion King. In the newspaper, I was a fan of Peanuts (yes, really).

5. What was the last book you read? Last magazine you read cover to cover? David Halberstam's "The Powers That Be," a book about the rise of major media companies in the U.S. and the people behind the companies. Racer X, a magazine that covers the sport of motocross. This magazine is really well-done, beautiful images and well-written, relevant to the people who love this sport, fat with advertising, and of all things, published in Morgantown, W.Va.

6. What was your most memorable day at Hammock? Many memorable days, but 9/11 stands out. I walked in late because I had been at home watching, and no one here knew what was happening, so when I arrived, we all walked into the kitchen and turned on the TV. Everyone here (and it's a pretty lively, opinionated bunch) was silent, horrified and in shock (no different than all Americans in those first few hours, I suppose). I'll never forget the look on people's faces here.

7. What's your favorite reality TV show? Would you ever participate? Not a fan of the genre, but I suppose I have to say "Rock Star: INXS," since my brother, Andrew, is a producer on the show. That show had great production values, and I do like the music competition part. No, I would not participate on the show. I'm the guy who selects Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" for Karaoke because it's almost like speaking and not singing.

8. Where did you go to college? The College of William & Mary in Virginia. Second-oldest college in the United States, after Harvard. Established by Royal Charter in 1693. It's where Thomas Jefferson and Jon Stewart both went to college. It's where the academic honor code was established.

9. Where did you grow up? I grew up in the suburbs of Northern Virginia, about 15 miles from Washington, D.C., with the exception of two years in Colorado. Most of my life, I lived in Fairfax County. I lived in Annandale and went to school in McLean.

10. If you could switch places with any other Hammock employee for one day, who would it be and why? Bill Hudgins, because he lives on a farm and because he knows how to dance really cool ballroom dances, including Latin dances like the tango. I know how to dance the hustle and other appalling steps that entertain me.

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If you were to ever look at the Hammock Publishing company calendar, you'd see it full of meetings, deadlines, travel, birthdays and Hammock Days. What's a Hammock Day you might ask Well, it's the anniversary that each of us joined the Hammock team. Oct. 6 was that day for Susie Garland, so I threw a few questions about the day (and some other random things) her way.

1. October 6 was Hammock Day for you. How long have you been with Hammock Publishing? 1 year

2. What do you remember most about your first day at Hammock? That several people whispered "You're going to love it here." (They were right.)

3. If you didn't work at Hammock Publishing, what do you think you would be doing? freelance design and illustration

4. What was your favorite cartoon growing up? Scooby Doo

5. What was your most memorable day at Hammock? After doing a presentation in New Jersey, John, Bill and I had 4 1/2 hours to get to the airport. Between bad Mapquest directions and stand still traffic, we missed our flight.

6. What's your favorite reality TV show? Would you ever participate? The Apprentice. If they would have me, but I don't think I'm young or skinny enough.

7. Where did you go to college? William Penn College

8. Where did you grow up? Oskaloosa, Iowa

9. If you could switch places with any other Hammock employee for one day, who would it be and why? John Lavey, because I am interested in cultivating new business.

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