Successful Blog

The Mic Is On: We’re Visiting Big Cities . . .

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It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

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 Big Cities

We might talk about

  • what we like and we don’t like about big cities
  • being alone, being with friends in the city
  • big cities during the day, during the night
  • big cities where we have been, where we would like to be
  • big cities in songs and movies

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

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What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: Let’s Talk About Big Cities

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Yes the Mic Will Be on Tonight

Join Us Tonight for Tues. Open Comments

We’re Talking About B I G Cities

Let’s talk about what we like about big cities, what we don’t like about them, being alone, being with friends, during the day, during the night, where we have been, where we would like to be, in songs and movies, and anything else that comes up.

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

The rules are simple — be nice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

How Too Much Thinking Used to Screw Me Up

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We Think a Lot

Business Rules Logo

The other day, we were talking about being shy and telling stories in the context of self-promotion. I said something about the “ME” in self-conscious. I’ve always thought about it. RK came back and put to words in a pair of comments that said exactly what I always had wondered about . . . am I shy or am I egotistical?

Then, oh then, the killer sentence was this one.

I’d say the ME in the Self-Conscious could be very much due to hyper thinking and analysis. — Comment by RK

Guilty.

How Too Much Thinking Used to Screw Me Up

This is one of my best stories . . . ever.

The company had a feeling about people that was good. Some folks were larks and some were owls was how the president described it. So no one really watched what time anyone came in the door each morning. Everyone assumed we all knew what our role was and that we did our fair share.

Except well, it started to get noticed that my team was coming in later. Then later. Soon it was after 9:30 when the last ones were trailing in. Okay so maybe I was the only one who noticed . . . but I don’t think I was.

In any case, before anyone else said something I thought maybe I should.

We had a short meeting at 11 a.m. I explained that we were kind of pushing the envelope on the time we came in, that maybe we should be aware that other folks might misinterpret things. After some conversation, everyone went to lunch.

Two hours later, two people still weren’t back.

This is the part where I did too much thinking. . . . I had two completely different arguments going on in my head at the same time.

  1. They’re good people. This is a coincidence. I should handle this as I always would. Treat them as adults. Assume they have a reason. Move forward.

  2. We just had a meeting about taking advantage of time. If I don’t say something, I’m not doing my job.

I bet I had this argument going on for at least 20 minutes as I kept looking at the clock on my wall. I got absolutely nothing done during that time — talk about not doing my job.

As I’m in the middle of this argument, the two return. I hear their manager say to them, “Are you NUTS!?”

It was the perfect response for the two people and the situation.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar. She’s much better now.

Change the World: Inspire Someone

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Hey Jean, How Can We Change the World

Change the World!

When I wrote the title of this post I thought I was going to say something else, but just as I was about to type I got an email. A friend sent me a message she said I could share.

Live your Dream

Sent by Jean Hopman

Stop for a second and look outside. See the colors? I know you can’t hear the mourning dove, but it’s singing, too. So are lots of other birds I don’t know the name of.

And here’s a quotation from something I read last night that also made me think of you –

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. – Frederick Buechner

It speaks to me about your being called to building humanity. It’s about having no choice but to live your dream.

Jean Hopman is a blog reader.

Thank you, Jean, for inspiring me.

Think of how inspiration changes your world view.

Go on inspire someone.

We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

Change the World!.

Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever.

Why you Should Go . . .

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What Easton Said About SOBCon

I have wonderful relationships with so many stellar and outstanding bloggers.
One of the best of them is Easton Ellsworth of KnowMoreMedia — the man who invented blogtipping.

A good part of yesterday afternoon we spent on Skype talking about how to use links to build relationships and to write effectively for people — sure links bring traffic, but if traffic is your only goal the people who come aren’t the same as the readers you find you when you write for people.

Take Easton Ellsworth’s word for it.

SOBCon 07 will be different from any conference you’ve attended.

The speakers will be incredible. But they’re not the main event. You are.

You have to be there. YOU will shape and define SOBCon. And SOBCon will reshape and redefine you and your business.

You will discover how to use emerging technologies to supercharge your business and connect to people more effectively on the Web.

The virtual mini-conference was just an appetizer. The seven-course meal is coming.

Are you coming to Chicago? Are you going to try to persuade me to help you get there?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Don’t forget April 1 is just days away . . . be sure register now and to take advantage of fabulous hotel discount using promo code!!

Gotta Get Goals — Yeah!

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Sit Up Straight

Alex Shalman and I have been talking by email. He’s a most engaging blogger. He seems to have a new idea every week minute that involves other bloggers interacting with him.

He’s the real deal about what he’s doing. I know, he’s managed to survive a whole string of emails with me. This morning even survived a phone call. Then IM’d me that I’m hilarious. Go figure!

Now, I’m doing a meme . . . because with three blogs of my own, two more that I write for, three important clients, several writing students, SOBCon 07, a book, the 200 Outstanding Blogs Project and another start-up project . . . I’ve been feeling like, a bit of . . . . um er, . . . . a slacker.

Alex started this project, but apparently he got Aaron involved. Aaron thought I

gotta get goals

So, Aaron, here they are:

  1. Build something that makes a difference to humanity.
  2. Write something that moves people to realize their potential.
  3. Learn something that pushes my thinking deeper and truer.
  4. Dance more. Laugh more. Inspire more people, including myself.
  5. Finish the amazing and fun book about Larry and the dog.
  6. Gather enough money of my own to help anyone I want to help whenever I want to.
  7. Be extraordinary, live in extraordinary circumstances, do extraordinary things, without worrying about it.
  8. Fly around the world once a year again to see my friends.
  9. Give away everything that I know.
  10. Earn a 7 figure salary by serving those I love who love what I do.

I was going to tag some other slackers like me, but I think you all know who you are. So if you gotta get goals, spread some link love while you figure out the path to your dream. Don’t blow this off . . . having goals is the first step to getting there.

One little goal is enough for now . . . gotta get goals.

It doesn’t hurt. I promise.

–ME “Liz” Strauss