Steve, Liz, & Ben Franklin on Learning

Filed Under Basics, Community, Great Finds, Successful Blog, Survival Kit | 25 Comments

Learning from Each Other

Benjamin Franklin said, “Things that hurt instruct.” I’m a curious sort. I learned how a stapler worked in kindergarten by putting a staple through my hand. I didn’t do that again. I even told my friends about it. I’m still telling you now. That way some folks won’t have to learn the way I did.

Steve Remington agrees with Ben Franklin and me. So much he’s started a blog about it called Why My Blog Stinks and on one page in particular he’s inviting bloggers to swap stories of small things that went wrong on their way to success. I’ve started it out with one. Take a look and add your own by clicking the title below.

Not So Great Moments Page at Why My Blog Stinks

It’s a great way to learn from each other. No one else needs to learn about staplers the way I did. Not all learning needs to hurt. I think Ben would agree with that.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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NEW BLOGGER PAGE Lots of great posts on how to avoid problems on the new blogger page.

MUST HAVE: Content Theft Series

Filed Under Business Life, Great Finds, Successful Blog, Survival Kit | 5 Comments

This is more than a GREAT FIND. It’s a MUST HAVE. It’s going straight into the survival kit. Lorelle from WordPress has put together an amazing series of documents replete with facts on copyright and intellectual property that every blogger should have at his or her fingertips.

Great Find: What Do You Do When Someone Steals Your Content by Lorrell at WordPress
Type of Article: series on content theft
Permalink: http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2006/04/10/what-do-you-do-when-someone-steals-your-content/
Target Audience: Anyone who puts content on the Internet

Content: Lorrell at WordPress, one of my personal heroes and a highly respected web journalist, did extensive research to pull together a series of three documents on what to do when you find yourself in the unhappy situation of having your content stolen, hijacked from your blog or website. The series goes deep with uncountable links and resources. Her advice is straightforward and crystal clear. The series covers the topic completely. I’ll let her describe it.

This is the first of three articles. This article covers tips, information and resources to help you deal with copyright infringement, the theft of your blog or website content. The second article includes helpful links and resources for finding stolen content and copyright infringements. The last article in the series examines the growing trends in content theft such as image hotlinking, website hijacking, and abusive use of feeds to replace original content without permission, as well as other copyright infringements on the rise.

Lorrell takes you through each part with step-by-step advice and sends you to the experts for more information. I’ve taken classes on copyright that didn’t cover the subject nearly this well.

Do yourself and your content the favor of checking this out. Click the screenshot to get started.

What Do You Do When Someone Steals Your Content?

Part 2: Finding Stolen Content and Copyright Infringements

Part 3: The Growing Trends in Content Theft

I need to write a poem to Lorrell at WordPress like I did for Improbulus.

Some of you must have had experience with content theft already. What happened? What did you do about it?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Great Find: How to Back Up Your Blog

Great Find: Success in Technology or in Life?

Filed Under Branding, Business Life, Successful Blog, Survival Kit | 6 Comments

Okay, so you may not call an editorial on technology and life a Great Find, especially one that harks back from last November. I’ve been keeping this one for some Thursday when I had the feeling that folks might be ready to think about the quality of life. Around here it’s about to be a glorious spring again. That seemed like reason enough to pull this piece out. It can’t be too preachy. It’s Wired News after all.

Great Find: Eat, Sleep, Consume, Die by Tony Long for Wired News
Type of Article: an editorial rant on life before technology
Permalink: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,68742,00.html http://www.businessweek.com/careers/content/mar2006/ca20060327_414798.htm?campaign_id=nws_insdr_mar31&link_position=link18
Target Audience: Anyone who has tendencies toward work addiction

Content: Let’s face it. Research has proved it out. The laptop may have made our work lives easier, but it also meant that we are working longer. As Tony Long points out we’re living in a world where technology has this kind of impact in many places– in our homes, at work, and in our cities. Tony writes with intelligent phrasing and biting sarcasm. He’s decided there’s too much techonology being thrust on us, and he’s no shy about saying that it’s making him (and I think he’s implying us) cranky.

But that’s the point. My expectations have been raised to this ridiculous level by technology running amok through my heretofore-bucolic existence. I used to be a laid-back guy. Now I’m impatient. I chafe. I get irritable when my gratification isn’t instantaneous. And it isn’t just me. The whole world is bitchier these days.

It’s definitely a piece worth reading, especially now that we’re talking about how we’re treating each other. Being bitchy and overworked isn’t great promotion for your business, your brand, or your blog. As always, a click on the screenshot will take you to the article.

Wired News Eat, Sleep, Consume, Die Screenshot

I’m chaning my plan to work all weekend. I want to keep being the nice one.

I have a feeling this article will become more timely the older it gets.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Brand YOU–When An Apology Is in Order

Filed Under Branding, Business Life, Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog, Survival Kit | 7 Comments

The Challenge of Apologies

Personal Branding logo

Handling an apology can seem like an overwhelming challenge, especially in a business situation. At the least, it makes everyone involved self-conscious. With a clear head and a eye toward resolution, apologizing can be the same as handling any other problem. Follow the same five basic steps.

Handle Yourself Not the Apology

    1. Give yourself a chance to breathe.
    2. Slow down your thinking.
    3. Know the part where you are wrong.
    4. Gain your balance and make a plan.
    5. Move forward with calm and confidence.

Remember again to breathe.

Giving and Receiving Apologies

Don’t let the words, “I’m sorry,” scare you. They’re powerful words that, when given with care, can gain you more respect. An apology well received can do the same. It’s the fear of those two words that makes apologies go wrong.

Realize when you walk into a situation where an apology is going to happen that there is no person who has not behaved badly at some point in his or her life. If you’re having trouble starting, say so. If you feel you can say things more clearly in writing do so. Then offer the other person the choice to listen while you read it or to read it while you wait.

With apologies, less is more. Mean what you say and keep it simple. Don’t use an apology to move an agenda forward. Use these principles to uphold the integrity of your brand and to help everyone involved feel like a person of value.

When Apologizing

    1. Own what you did wrong.
    2. Start by saying why you are apologizing–that you value the person and the relationship and why it is important to you.
    3. Say you’re sorry and say what you’re sorry for. “I’m sorry, I behaved badly.”
    4. Don’t expect a response. It’s okay, if there isn’t one. Leave the other person a place to stand.
    5. Thank the other person for listening.

When Accepting an Apology

    1. Know that the other person feels self-conscious too. Be gracious and accepting.
    2. Do say thank you. It feels more honest and equal than, “I accept.”
    3. If you’re sorry too, say so. Don’t say things that aren’t true.
    4. Always leave the other person a place to stand.
    5. Always give the other person as much time as he or she needs.

Have a conversation after the apology. It’s a chance to get to know that person in a new way. Be thoughtful and honest, and you may forge a stronger relationship built on new respect.

A True Leader

Once you have apologized or heard an apology, move on to cooler more interesting matters. Don’t keep apologizing or talking about the incident. The horse is dead. The sale’s been made–don’t buy it back. Too much talk about it will devalue what’s already been said. The power of “I’m sorry,” diminishes the more times you repeat it. It also makes for more discomfort.

Do spend quality time as one human being with another sharing undivided attention. You may not make a new best friend, but you will find a person who has a few things in common with you. That’s a starting point for a new working relationship. You’ve just been through something hard together.

Apologies are never easy, but they don’t need to be scary or humiliating. The ability to apologize with grace and respect is a quality of a true leader.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Don’t Let Burn Out Singe Your Brand

Filed Under Business Life, Motivation/Inspiration, SOB Business, Successful Blog, Survival Kit | 1 Comment

Pulled Wire Thin

Recently I shared emails with SOB Dr. Deborah Serani about blogging, brands, and work stress in general. I asked her whether she had information regarding stress and burnout and within seconds I had an article in my gmail inbox. Now there’s a doctor who doesn’t make you wait!

Personal Branding logo

I know it happened to me on my last major project. Timelines were tighter than humanly possible. Work piles were taller than the people working on them. Personalities were pulled wire thin. Everyone’s personal brand was summed up in “When will this be done?”

We Didn’t Know We Were Burned Out

Burn out was a serious problem–folks were working nights and weekends. They were coming in early and leaving late. Getting help wasn’t an option. This was intellectual property, by the time we caught someone up to speed the project would be done.

The worst part was we didn’t know that we were burned out.

Burn Out Is Serious

Burnout is a serious problem. It can tear down all you’ve done to build a reputation–your personal brand. It can cause folks to lose trust in who you are. It takes your confidence. It can steal your job.

Dr. Deborah Serani has a simple way for you to tell if you’re stressed and burning out and offers some things you can do about it if you are. Click the screenshot you’re worth it. We need you and your brand, thinking outside of the box.

Burnout Article Dr. Deborah Serani Screenshot

Thanks, Deb. It’s great to have a Dr. on our side.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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