Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

June 30, 2009

The Mic Is On: We’re talking with Lisa Jenkins about the 1st Days of Her Business!

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 6:59 pm

It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

The Mic Is On

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

Guest Host: Lisa D. Jenkins

ldjforlizstrauss

Starting Out Can Be Scary

The first steps in starting an Internet-based business might be thrilling. They’re also the scariest. We’ll be talking tonight with an entrepreneur who’s making the transition to becoming her own boss now.

And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)

Oh, and bring example links.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
image: burningwell.org
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?


Filed under SOB Business, Successful Blog | 256 Comments »


June 30, 2009

Online Culture: Is Your Definition of Real Life Out of Date?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:29 am

In Real Life

I keep encountering the phrase “in real life.” People use it often to talk about the offline culture. Most of probably first heard that phrase as small children. Our families use it to help us differentiate between fantasy and reality, fact or fiction. It’s education curriculum — a skill essential to literacy and critical thinking — teachers help children sort real versus make believe in schools all over the world.

Out of school and grown, we rely on that skill to navigate information and relationships — to identify competence, credibility, relevance, predictability, integrity, authenticity. We trust what is “real.” We look to uncover fallacy.

It’s how we learn to trust who and what we know. But reality is perception and perception is made of more than information — personal filters and cultural beliefs change our view of what’s authentic.

Hopefully with new information and new experience we changed how we see and what we know.

Culture Shock

Lately I’ve realized that my definition of real life and the words around the online experience need to change. My view hasn’t kept up with the new seamless online and offline line communication world. Here’s how I got to that thought.

When we go to another country, we find another culture. It’s just as likely that we’ll find another culture in the next neighborhood. Culture is a context that frames our reality.

What’s fine and natural in one context can be a reputational blunder in another. We start to “get” this the first time our peer group has different values than our family. Peer culture has different rules.

Vocabulary changes from one culture to another too. The most used definition of community can be a group of like minded thinkers here, a church group there, or a small town depending on the group we’re talking with.

Even the mode of communication has its effect. We dress and act differently in person than we might on the phone. Without the visual input our words have more power and are offered in a verbal behavior set. This tool changes the culture in which it works just that much. Yet we never say that we’re in another world when we talk on the phone or when we text.

AND it’s a new cultural fact: No one wants to hear our cell phone convervastions.

Similarly, online culture is developing rules of behavior that change in different situations too.

Yet because folks have imagined virtual reality that is not all true, we’ve developed this mindset that being online isn’t the real world when in fact, the Internet is just another set of tools.

Being online isn’t another world … it’s a set of tools in another culture paradigm. It’s no less the real world than being on the phone.

To be visibly authentic in every conversation in every every culture, it’s important to be aware that media only mediates relationships and it only causes contextual cultural shifts. .

The media we use doesn’t define real life.
Media doesn’t change the world, people do.

Is your definition of real life out of date too?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Buy the ebook. Learn the art of online conversation.


Filed under Marketing, Successful Blog | 11 Comments »


June 30, 2009

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: It’s Lisa’s 1st Days of Business Without a Boss!

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:17 am

Join Us Tonight

JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7PM

Guest Host: Lisa D. Jenkins

ldjforlizstrauss

Starting Out Can Be Scary

The first steps in starting an Internet-based business might be thrilling. They’re also the scariest. We’ll be talking tonight with an entrepreneur who’s making the transition to becoming her own boss now.

Oh, and bring example links and bring some perspective!

The rules are simple — be nice.

Do be nice. :)

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?


Filed under SOB Business, Successful Blog | 2 Comments »


June 29, 2009

How Many Ways Do You Offer Your Content?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 9:15 am

Repurposing Content Is a Service

relationships button

If you watch cable television carefully, you will see an interview clip from one program replayed again in another program. Perhaps you’ve had the feeling you’ve seen a show before, but then again . . . maybe not? Packaging and repackaging bits of content makes it worth more and last longer. Five uses for the same content stretches the corporate dollar.

It seems backwards doesn’t it . . . to reuse content in a time when there is so much of it? But it makes sense. If I know my content is accurate and high quality, I should share it with as large an audience as I can — particularly in this time of attention economy.

So Much Content . . . Why?

The amount of content and information available is more than anyone can read, yet we are all being asked to know more, and more, and more. If there’s so much content already, it seems miserly to repackage what is already published?

Not necessarily.

There are valid reasons to repackage content in this age of attention economy. Repackaging and repurposing content allows a publisher

Granted, those three points actually say the same thing in different ways. That’s exactly what repackaging is — tailoring content to suit the needs of the audience.

Just as some conversations are meant for an email, some for a meeting, and some are meant to be shared in person … content can be designed to fit the needs of the situation.

Giving the readers what they want instead of what we think they need — that’s a concept worth exploring. Much of existing content probably suits existing needs, if only we would structure it in way that our readers found it relevant and offer it so that they could use it as they want to rather than as we think they should.

How many ways do you offer your content? Just one? Is that enough?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Buy the ebook. Learn the art of online conversation.


Filed under Marketing, Outside the Box, Successful Blog, The Big Idea | 11 Comments »


June 28, 2009

Beach Notes: Being Open to Opportunity

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:23 am

by Guest Writers Suzie Cheel and Des Walsh

One morning recently at the beach we were reminded that in life as in business one needs to be open to opportunities.

As we walked onto the beach we saw the at the waters edge fisherman’s boats and trucks. One of the trucks had other walkers gathering around. As we got closer we realized they were buying fish fresh from the sea, the first time we have seen this happen in 5 years.

freshmullet

The still live fish were being offered for a ridiculously small sum of $1 a fish. All we needed was a bag and $1 for a fresh fish breakfast!

One bag less but enterprising woman with her newspaper money spread her jacket on the sand in lieu of a bag.

We don’t take money to the beach and missed the opportunity for fresh fish for breakfast.

Now days we keep spare money and bags in the car. Next time the fisherman appear we will be ready.

Suzie Cheel & Des Walsh


Filed under Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog | No Comments »



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