July 15, 2007

Can’t: Wendy Piersall, Ann Michael, Inside Out

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 3:40 pm

The Story of a War

Sometimes I think of problem solving as strategizing a war. Maybe it’s because I read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Maybe it’s because my big, big brothers could win in any confrontation.

Usually I start out thinking I’ve lost. Then I rally, go on a quest, and conquer the enemy. Hey, it takes some thought to beat opponents who are bigger than you are.

Wendy, I Can’t

Thursday night my friend, Wendy Piersall. and I talked about the future over a glass of wine. I was explaining a place where I was finding myself . . . um, er . . . stuck. She said exactly what I needed to hear.

I artfully dodged her advice using the phrase, “I can’t, because . . . ” Hey, when you’re talented, you’re also talented at things like that.

Wendy: Blog what you do.

ME: It’s right-brain intuitive. I can’t.

Wendy: You? Liz Strauss? You can’t? You can blog anything.

ME: Don’t say that I’m arguing for my limitations.

Wendy: You knew I’d say that. You are doing it, you know.

The conversation stayed with me. It’s Sunday, and here I am telling you.

Ann, Help Me Test

Back to the story . . . She wasn’t buying my argument. Either I had to come up with a better argument or beat down that can’t. My brothers had taught me I never win arguments.

I was in the taxi headed home that night when I started to see the plan. I put the words together in a few hours. This is a quest. I called in Ann Michael last night and today to test my thinking on final tweaks before I went live with this post.

The Announcement

I am pleased to announce a new series. It will show you how to build a solid business strategy based on who you are. The series will offer down-to-earth methods and questions that bring business into focus. It’s time someone showed how to build a market view on concrete not sand. I’ll share models you can use to test decisions.

Tomorrow, the new series begins.

I call it

Inside out logo

because it begins with your strengths, your ideas, your passion and builds on the customers who love what you do.

I’m jazzed. This is what makes my heart sing. This is what I’m good at. This is what the Perfect Virtual Manager does.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.


Filed under Inside-Out Thinking, Perfect Virtual Manager, Successful Blog |



C'mon. Let's talk!

30 Comments to “Can’t: Wendy Piersall, Ann Michael, Inside Out”

  1. July 15th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
    ann michael said

    I can’t wait to read every word!!

    :-)

  2. July 15th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
    Vernon Lun said

    Liz, you’re right on the money. Sun Tzu said to win the war with the most certainty, you have to know both the enemy and yourself. You cannot do one without the other. He also spoke of Tao, or the way. For us, it would mean our passion, that which brings meaning to us.

    Thanks for starting the journey to all our learning.
    Vern

  3. July 15th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
    Stuart Baker said

    Liz, this sounds right-on to me, and it sounds like something you will do awfully well. It grows out of you.

    Thanks.

    Stuart Baker
    http://www.consciouscooperation.com

  4. July 15th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
    Kirk M said

    You see, it’s never too late to find out that you can do something even if it’s something you do very well in one aspect and putting it into an entirely different aspect/venue. God knows I’ve had to re-learn that from time to time.

    There’s no one I know of (dare I say of our generation?) with the kind a flexibility needed to do this kind of thing than you Liz.

    Except me of course. :roll:

    I can also see how this might not only help in business but in blogging and personal growth as well. I’ll be sure to be around for this series.

    Good luck and all that.

  5. July 15th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Ann!
    It’s going to be something I’m going to take the time to do right the first time out. :)

    Thanks for your help!

  6. July 15th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Vern,
    It’s time that we knew how to focus ourselves on what we want to do. We’ve been waiting for other folks to show us, and we already know ourselves well enough to get going. Yep we do. :)

    Sun Tzu was a wise man. He understood people. People haven’t changed since then really.

    You’re a wise man too. :)

  7. July 15th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Stuart!
    Thank you for your confidence. I feel good about this,. I didn’t want to go here until it was full “cooked.” Now it is. :)

  8. July 15th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Kirk!
    Thanks I can see where your background will be essential to helping me out. I sure hope you’ll be there with a word or two of wisdom when there’s those thing that I always leave out. :)

  9. July 15th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
    Kirk M said

    A word or two? Yes. Whether there is any wisdom involved with those words remains to be seen. :D

  10. July 15th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
    Stuart Baker said

    Hi Liz,

    It sounds typically you to want to be solid in what you are doing and not take a wild leap. A measured leap, maybe. And it will be good.

    All the best,

    Stuart

  11. July 15th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Stuart,
    How can I lose with coaches like you around?

  12. July 15th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Kirk,
    You say the words. I’ll weigh the wisdom. ;)

  13. July 15th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
    GP said

    do or not do… there is no try. Why did I feel like i was looking in the mirror reading this? :) Thanx

    gp in montana

  14. July 15th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi GP,
    I have the secret and I’m sharing it. :)

  15. July 16th, 2007 at 4:50 am
    Stuart Baker said

    Hi Liz,

    You are quite the coach yourself.

    Stuart

  16. July 16th, 2007 at 4:52 am
    ME Strauss said

    Good morning, Stuart!
    Thanks. I’m still a teacher at heart. :)

  17. July 16th, 2007 at 6:28 am
    Tammy Lenski said

    Liz, it’s so clear that this is the kind of thing that makes your heart sing. The words practically vibrate off the page with your enthusiasm. And, of course, that sweeps all of us up, too!

  18. July 16th, 2007 at 6:33 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Tammy,
    It’s always been fun to know how to focus in on where are my talents are and to use them to make good things happen. For me, it’s exponentially more fun when I finally figure out how to explain in writing to other folks how they might do the same thing. :)

    That last one — finding a way to write about it — has been the nut I’ve been trying to crack. :)

  19. July 16th, 2007 at 10:07 am
    Connie Reece said

    But of course you have to do this, Liz! It’s your calling. Not optional. :-)

  20. July 16th, 2007 at 10:11 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Connie!
    You know I’m a little slow on the uptake. :)

  21. July 16th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
    Mike said

    First, thank you Wendy for clearing a silly roadblock for Liz!

    Second, I can’t wait! And yes Liz, you will with a giant capital C! :-) I expect it will be visible with the naked eye all the way here in Arizona.

    Mike

  22. July 16th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
    Wendy Piersall said

    I was going to shoot you an email about that conversation myself now that I am back in town…

    But it seems as though you’re on the right track anyway. ;)

  23. July 16th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Mike!
    Wendy is right here! How cool is that! :)

  24. July 16th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
    Mike said

    I saw that, and I hope she feels the appreciation I have for what she did (and does)! ;-)

    Great first post in the series! I’ve seen similar posts in other places (i.e., find your passion), and I really like the setup, the tone, and the direction of yours! I like the word “businesslike” and the fact that your passion for the process is plain to see!!

    Mike

  25. July 16th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Wendy!
    Thanks for everything! And for coming to check. :)

  26. July 16th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey, Mike!
    The first, gosh, it took me forever! All of the setting it up . . . but still getting to something worth talking about.

    Just you wait . . . :)

  27. July 16th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
    Mike said

    It took JK Rowling what - seven years to set up the Potter milieu? I’m telling you, I have faith that that ‘C’ will be visible from space!!

    And everything you write is worth talking about, but I can’t wait for something you’re so obviously jazzed about!!! (3)

    Mike

  28. July 16th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi,
    I just can’t leave any part out. :)
    So we’ll have to get there when we get there. :)
    Darn it anyway.

  29. July 17th, 2007 at 7:13 am
    Ariane Benefit, Neat & Simple Living said

    Congrats Liz! I love watching another “I Can’t” get be knocked out by Wendy! : ) Can’t wait to see how your new series unfolds!

  30. July 17th, 2007 at 7:30 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Ariane!
    Yesterday was a tiny beginning

    1. No Mission Statement, One Simple Question

    Today is a tiny bit more.

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

C'mon Let's Talk!