Successful Blog

Closed Beta Needs Intelligent, Helpful, Active Listeners

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A Beta Baby Is Being Born

Sshhh! Beta being born

I was on the phone yesterday with Aaron Stanton. You might remember him from his question to get Google to listen. I liked his style then. So when he wrote to say he’s got something going on, I said let’s talk . . .

Here’s what I know after our conversation.

Are you hearing things go bump in the night at about 4 in the morning?

Shh! A secret beta is being born. A handful of programmers in Boise, Idaho, with the help of 20 or so more around the world, are putting the finishing touches on their new “baby.”

They’re asking for intelligent, helpful, active participants . . . to help by interacting with the “little tyke” while it gets a sense of itself.

Can you stop by their place for an hour a week for the next 4-6 weeks to help them get the bugs out?

If you’re interested in finding out more . . .

Can Google Hear Me? — Beta

Aaron’s fun, they’re on their own, and they sure are into what they’re doing.

But remember, Sshhh! the beta is still being born.

This is for Successful-Blog reader’s only, and you’ll need to use this code 19982E.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

SOB Business Cafe 07-20-07

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SB Cafe

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Performancing has a list that hundreds of readers digg.

Chrisg is offering a chance for us to show off a bit.

Brain Based Biz is explaining our mutliple intellgiences.

Making Life Work for You has an obvious idea.

Circular Communication has introduced the virtual interview.

Jeff Pulver has a new address.

Related ala carte selections include

Inkthinker is doing something we’re all learning to do.

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like. No tips required. Comments appreciated.

Have a great weekend!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

The Mic Is On: We're On a Deserted Island!

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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.

What Would You Take?

There’s plenty to talk about. Here’s a few ideas to get us started:

  • What music would we listen to?
  • What books would we want to read?
  • Would there be anyone else with us? Like Gilligan?
island

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

Oh, and bring links about the deserted island to share!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: What Would We Take to a Deserted Island?

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Yes the Mic Will Be on Tonight

Join Us Tonight

What Would We Want if We Were Alone on Deserted Island? . . .

Think about it!

We can talk about what music we would want, what books we might take, whether Gilligan would be there, and whatever else comes up.

Oh, and bring links about desert island equipment and toys to share!

The rules are simple — be nice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Thanks to Week 90 SOBs

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Successful and Outstanding Bloggers

Let me introduce the bloggers
who have earned this official badge of achievement,

and the right to call themselves
Successful Blog SOBs.

I invite them to take a badge home to display on their blogs.

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They take the conversation to their readers,
contribute great ideas, challenge us, make us better, and make our businesses stronger.

I thank every one of our SOBs for thinking what we say is worth passing on.
Good conversation shared can only improve the blogging community.

Should anyone question this SOB button’s validity, send him or her directly to me. This award comes with a full “Liz said so” guarantee. It is endorsed by Kings of the Hemispheres, Martin and Michael, and backed by my brothers, Angelo and Pasquale.

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Want to become an SOB?

If you’re an SO-Wanna-B, you can see the whole list of SOBs and learn how to be one by visiting the SOB Hall of Fame. Click the link or visit the What IS an SOB?! page in the sidebar.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Some Birthdays Are Special

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Chris’s Is

The date was December 7, 2006.

The headline at Successful-Blog that day read

Chris Cree and Liz Converse and Conspire

It was the morning after Chris and I had meet for the first time in person. We were announcing that he would be a writer on Succesful-Blog. That was before the world knew about SOBCon 07. That was before a slew of acts of magic, deeds of daring, loyal gestures, great writing, laughter, and sharing of himself and his Gorgeous wife.

I felt I knew him on December 7. Gosh, imagine how I must feel now. It’s way more than Americans have figured out a word. What word can come close to describing a guy who’s ALWAYS there for you? I think got it as right as I ever will when I used this quote.

People from the same family are rarely born under one roof.
–Richard Bach, Illusions

Family. Yeah. The family we would pick if we could.

So it’s with the gratitude my head and my heart that I say to my dear friend, Chris Cree.

I hold you high. I respect your work. I trust you with what is mine.

And I wish you the very most

Happy Birthday

Thank you. My life would have a Chris-sized hole if you ever left it.

Liz's Signature