Bloggy Question 14 — Make a Wish

Filed Under Bloggy Questions, Community, Idea Bank, Successful Blog | 24 Comments

Wishful Thinking

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week, I offer this Blogging Question.

What do you wish someone would invent?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Ideas When I Get My Hair Cut

Filed Under Branding, Idea Bank, Outside the Box, Productivity, Successful Blog, Writing | 9 Comments

Ideas Everywhere

Finding Ideas Outside of the Box logo 2

Yesterday, I got a haircut. While I was waiting I looked through a magazine and took notes. I took notes on articles and on advertisements. When I was through one magazine, I had complete ideas for four blog posts — not counting this one — and 27 phrases that I thought might spark ideas later.

Not bad for just sitting around waiting my turn.

I hate actually reading those magazines in places where I get my hair cut, and there’s never time to get into a good book.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Friday Productivity Tip — Get Some Silence

Filed Under Business Life, Idea Bank, Outside the Box, Productivity, Successful Blog, ZZZ-FUN | 15 Comments

Quiet the Chatter

Today when you’re trying to get that last minute work done, and someone comes in to “shoot the breeze,” “talk your leg off,” “chatter like chimp,” or be a “bird in a box.” You might try this.

  • Look up from what you are working.
  • Slowly glance left and right, as if to be sure no one is watching you.
  • Quietly invite your visitor to come close to view your computer screen.
  • Then click this link and say, “Isn’t this the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?”

Then just stay silent and stare at the screen. As a bigger treat, you might offer your headphones so that your guest might listen even more silently.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Finding Fodder for Future Ideas

Filed Under Business Life, Idea Bank, Outside the Box, Productivity, Successful Blog, Writing | 26 Comments

Finding Fodder

Finding Ideas Outside of the Box logo 2

Yesterday, Joe of Working at Home on the Internet reminded me of my days going to press runs, when he was talking about his experience as a printer.

Immediately my mind flashed to this story.

I was in the car with my friend KB on the way to a press run. We’d worked 12 weeks straight living in the Marriott New York East Side. Now we’d flown into Chicago and were driving into one of the suburbs. She was driving. I was looking out the window. I was taking in all of the signs of the restaurants and stores as we passed by them.

Then, suddenly out of the blue I heard, “Will you . . . .SHUT UP!”

It seems I had been reading every sign out loud.

“I don’t really need you to read me every sign we pass,” she said. “What was that?”

“Sorry,” I said. “Fodder.”

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Critical Skill 5B: Sparking Spectacular Ideas

Filed Under Branding, Idea Bank, Motivation/Inspiration, Outside the Box, Successful Blog, Writing | Leave a Comment

Spectacular Ideas

Future Skills

Do you recognize where we are? We’ve been here before. This is the place where I tell you that ideas are already in your head, that it’s a matter of letting yourself have them — not shutting them out. It’s when I remind you that you can be an idea magnet again. I tell you that ideas are waiting for you. I ask you if you’ve started seeing and hearing them.

Whew! Now that the déjà vu is over. We can get on with sparking spectacular ideas.

Caution: Now Entering Liz Think Zone

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