Successful Blog

Blog Herald Today: If You See This, The Content Is Stolen

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Sometimes Irony Is Sweet

As a writer, I’ve always taken the idea of owning my work seriously. As a publisher, I’ve always understood that no one can copyright an idea. As blogger, I’m tired of seeing people steal what my friends and I have spent our time working on, tired of watching sploggers toss ads up alongside our work to make their money.

Read the whole feature in today’s Blog Herald by clicking the logo.

The Blog Herald

It’s about blogging and real life.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
EIGHT DAYS FROM NOW! HAVE YOU RESERVED YOUR SEAT?
SOBCon 07 limited seating. Register Now!

We Talked about Stress . . .

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and Maybe Caused a Little!

Hi Everyone! It was another great conversation. This week we talked about the things that stress us and we had a special guest, Ari Garber, who brought a ton of information and cool links with him. So head on back and take a look at what went on, you might find something that will take that knot out from between your shoulders or help you get some rest.

You also might find out a little more about the folks who hang out at Successful Blog . . .

You can read all about it in the The Mic Is On: We’re Talking About Stress! comments.

Here are some cool links we shared.

Thanks to Ari. Thanks to everyone for the cool links and for being part of the conversation.

See you next Tuesday? I sure hope so.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

WANT TO GUEST HOST AN OPEN COMMENT NIGHT WITH ME? PICK A THEME AND TELL ME ABOUT IT. C’MON IT’LL BE FUN!

Interview 16.1 Comments from Easton Ellsworth!

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Interview and Commentary

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If you read comments, you know that a great comment is hard to find. If you write them, you know why.

On some of the most readable blogs, the most readable comments are in the voice under the name of Easton Ellsworth. Easton writes a great blog post — no kidding — but he also writes the most interesting comments you might find in a comment box. People I know actually look forward to coments Easton leaves on Blogtipping Day. It’s because he’s authentic and a great guy. Here’s few comments I picked up . . . Easton is cheerful and funny. He’s also a wise man.

A HUGE key to blogging success – and also to writing success and life success – is being able to read and drink in knowledge effectively. And along with that, developing a keen sense of what constitutes good or bad writing.

Good blogs don’t write themselves – people with engaging intellects produce them. So it will be with SOBCon. I hope everyone who reads this drops what they’re doing and registers!

Off the top of my head, I’d say I work hard to connect professionals with other on the Web. That’s just one aspect of my life though … hmmm, need some time to mull it over!

Sometimes we write forward – across the table to our readers – and sometimes we write sideways – around the table to our content producing cohorts. It’s important to learn how to do both to the satisfaction of both parties.

So I wanted to introduce you to the Easton that I know. He’s a guy that’s one in a million and well worth getting to know. So let me introduce you to the first of a two-part interview.

Easton, You are more than a blogger. You’re involved behind the scenes at KnowMoreMedia, but even more you really are the face of the company. Is there anything you’d like people to know about who you are and what you do?

I want others to know that I pour my heart and soul into my job – not just my blog posts, but also my efforts to improve and promote Know More Media as a source of relevant business news and information. I spend most of my workday teaching and motivating our bloggers and reaching out to connect with others who might benefit from working with us. And that I am proud to be a work-at-home parent who knows how it feels to juggle diaper-changing and banner ads, Teletubbies and teleconferencing, grocery shopping and blog brainstorming, etc.

What were you like when you first started blogging? What was your blogging goal then? What is it now? Where would you like to be in three years if there were no obstacles?

When I started blogging in August 2005, I knew almost nothing about blogs. I stumbled across my blogging job via a part-time copywriting job that helped pay my young family’s bills while I was a full-time college student. At first, my biggest blogging goal was just to tell all the people I could about Know More Media. As I met other bloggers and made friends, helping others excel (blogging or otherwise) became my number one goal. I’ve found this to be the most rewarding and uplifting course to pursue, and I’m grateful to have met so many excellent people who feel likewise. Three years from now I would love to be with Know More Media or maybe even start my own business on the Web.

More Comments from Easton.

Ya done good thar, Liz. Ya done good. . . . post coming soon – great job making people blush, Liz!

Thanks, Easton. You look good in that blush red color. . . . Can I have a Pez?

Meet Easton at SOBCon 07 on May 11&12 — Why SOBCon not that Other One. Register now

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Interview 15.2: Jeff Talks about the Two Myths that Get in Our Way
13.1 Meet Glenda Watson Hyatt
Interview 11.1: Rajesh Setty — Raj’s Story

Change the World: With an Open Heart

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Letting Go Is Hope, Belief, Aspiration

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So few things we need. So many more we want. The wanting, the needing, the holding tight ties us to where we are. We can’t move, if we can’t let go. Holding things in our hearts keeps us closed.

I tighten my hand into a fist. It’s hard. It’s hard to keep my hand that way. So many things I cannot do with my hand that way. So many things I cannot do when my heart is that way too.

How can we reach when our hands, our hearts, hold tightly to where we are, when they’re tightly closed holding things inside?

I open my hand. The stress is gone. My hand is free to touch, to move, to help a friend who needs me, to type these words to you. So many things that I can feel and understand when my heart is open too.

Letting go is hope. It is belief, and aspiration. It becomes reaching for a dream. It has passion for a noble vision. Letting go can open eyes; it can open minds; it can open hearts to understanding.

We cannot hold our hand closed when we are reaching. We cannot stand stubbornly when we are moving forward. We cannot turn away from each other when our hearts are open wide. We cannot lose sight of forgiveness or compassion when we surrender our needs to be the center of the universe.

There is no defense for an open heart. An open heart needs nothing. It sustains itself on unconditional love and understanding.

An open heart is a gift to ourselves that calls our to the world, “I love you,” and expects nothing in return, yet somehow hears so many echoes in so many voices.

We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

The Mic Is On: We’re Talking About Stress!

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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.

We’re Talking about Stress with Ari Garber, Special Guest

Stress. Gosh don’t I know it? I’ve got enough of it in my life. But then, you do too. Who doesn’t?

So, I asked a friend, Ari, who knows a bit about the stress experience — he was a full-time trader and now he works in a firm run by four partners (all Ph.D.s). He and I thought that it’s time we talked about stress. Maybe we have ideas on how to have less stress and more fun.

We might talk about

  • What causes you stress?
  • What specific little tricks and methodologies do you use to combat it?
  • Do you focus on psychological, physiological, or holistic approaches to deal with it?
  • Do you self medicate? Do you have prescribed medication? I didn’t want to be the alcoholic cliche of a trader, but the heroin was fun… (That was a joke people)
  • Is stress just the luxury of those who have time to dwell on it?

And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey.

Oh, and bring a link, if you have one to share.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: Let’s Talk About Stress . . .

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Yes the Mic Will Be on Tonight

Join Us Tonight

With Ari Garber, Special Guest

Stress. Gosh don’t I know it? I’ve got enough of it in my life. But then, you do too. Who doesn’t?

So, I asked a friend who knows a bit about the stress experience — he was a full-time trader and now he works in a firm run by four partners (all Ph.D.s). He and I thought that it’s time we talked about stress. Maybe we have ideas on how to have less stress and more fun.

I introduce, my friend, Ari.

Liz,
Thanks for inviting me to submit the open mic topic for this week. I chose stress as the discussion starter, how it comes about, how we combat it, how we avoid it.

A few basic thoughts to throw to everyone, from my experiences and random mental meanderings.

Stress is caused by our interpretation and attitude towards the circumstances we find ourselves in. Attitude colors interpretation, it prevents us from coping at optimal levels, it can solve 90% of issues by allowing the freedom to creatively address what otherwise might be viewed as a crisis.

Stress is largely the result of our own decisions. We place ourselves in circumstances. We choose to care. We lose self awareness in the moment, and react emotionally. Our attitudes in dealing with the consequences of our decisions then come into play.

Stress is also directly keyed to physiology as well as the psychology. Health is a key factor. If my diet is off, if I have not been to the gym to release some energy in a positive fashion; my stress levels rise. I need to take care of my body as a baseline, to then be able to take care of my brain.

Stress is subjective, and amazingly can be adapted to in some fashion. I used to be a full-time trader, moving, winning, and losing most peoples salary in seconds, hundreds of times a day. Stress for me today is too many things on my to-do list, and too many people wanting to chat with me while I am attempting to accomplish my own goals.

Oddly, doctors say that the stress I feel today is just as negative to my wellbeing as the stress back then.

I cannot be happy without some stress in my life. Without some pressure, I am not producing at my optimal levels.

What causes you stress?

  • What specific little tricks and methodologies do you use to combat it?
  • Do you focus on psychological, physiological, or holistic approaches to deal with it?
  • Do you self medicate? Do you have prescribed medication? I didn’t want to be the alcoholic cliche of a trader, but the heroin was fun… (That was a joke.)
  • Is stress just the luxury of those who have time to dwell on it?

I look forward to hearing everyone’s ideas.

Thanks again Liz for making this available to all,

ALG

Oh, and bring a link about how you deal with stress to share, if you have one.

The rules are simple — be nice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?