Successful Blog

Blogging My Experience

by

I've been thinking . . .

about a panel on blogging I saw.

About a month I was at a dinner at which a panel of experienced and well-known bloggers spoke. The audience was made up of mostly Internet marketing folks who do not blog.

Being there to see what was said and what was heard was an education in itself. When I left that night, I thought that disparity might be the most important “take away” that I had gained from the experience.

The experience. Note those two words.

The further I get from that night, the less I discuss the differences between what was said and what was heard and the more I repeat one comment made by a panel member it was Jory Des Jardins who said,

We blog about our experiences.

I agree. The best bloggers do that. They offer information that comes wrapped in the insight and wisdom they’ve gained from having “been there.”
We write about our experience of life, what we have learned, much like I am doing now. That’s how we help each other out.

That’s my “take away,” my insight, and my advice. Blog your experience.

Thanks Jory for your help on this one.

Liz's Signature

To My Friend, Wendy, the Inspired Entrepreneur

by

I agree

Yesterday at her blog, my friend, Wendy Piersall, wrote what she called The Biggest Blog Post of My Life. It started with these words.

Let me start at the beginning. Not at the beginning of this blog. Not even at the beginning of this decade. I’ll start at the beginning of my career. Why? Because this is a journey that has been tragic and difficult, exhilarating and amazing. I want to start at the beginning, because I want you to see yourself in this post. I want you to come with me, because I want you to write a post like this yourself someday, too. (Oh, God, I’m crying already.)

Wendy Piersall

It’s a fabulous story about an amazing and intelligent woman, who is beautiful inside and out, who knows how to live her life with every bit of the person she is.

It’s a kick and an honor to know her. Won’t you go read her good news and join me in celebrating with her? Click the title below to read her story.

Liz's Signature

We Talked About Art!

by

Hi Everyone! Every week Sandy and I try to think how to sum all that we talked about but you know it’s impossible to capture the joy, humor, and camaraderie of four hours in one simple blog post. And as much as I like taking a clever comment and sharing it here, it sure takes time and once in a while it embarrasses folks.

So we’re going to stop trying to do the impossible, trying to retell a fabulous memory, and instead let you enjoy the comments as they were said whole.

It was a busy night. We were talking about art. What makes it art? How do you know it’s art? Is that art? Graphic design, photography, ceramics, weaving, welding, spin art, calligraphy, graffiti, concrete, flower arranging, art therapy, music, cinema, theatre, architecture, poetry, dance, modern, renaissance, gothic, folk, fine, painting, drawing, sculpture, stained glass, blown glass, calligraphy, art history, art fairs, art galleries, art in the park, Art isn’t what you hang on a refrigerator, and don’t drink and draw. Wow!

You can read all about it in the We’re Art Crazy! Comments

Here are some cool links we shared.

Thanks to everyone for the cool links and for being part of the conversation. I’m so sorry I missed half the night and that he server has been misbehaving.

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!

SOBCon 07: Prizes and Gifts from Generous Folks

by

Fabulous Books and a Blog Design for Attendee Gifts

Wonderful people have arranged to be sending books and a special prize for attendees at SOBCon. I want to personally thank them for their generosity.

Prizes

Thank you to these generous folks who have offered at their own cost to donate these prizes to attendees at this years’s SOBCon event in Chicago on May 11-12.

The Blog Studio

Peter Flaschner, Creative Dictator, of The Blog Studio has come forward to present an offer of a $2,000 blog design as a door prize. Here’s a sample of what they’ve done in the last year. Click the design to visit their gallery.

Lisa Haneberg

Two Weeks to a Breakthrough

Lisa has donated multiple copies of her book, Two Weeks to a Breakthrough: How to Zoom Toward Your Goal in 14 Days or Less, and pens to go along with the book. Using Lisa Haneberg’s proven process will help you move beyond your fears and bad habits and help you make significant breakthroughs, even amid the overwhelming clutter of everyday life. Two Weeks to a Breakthrough uses both repetition and the gradual introduction of new techniques to increase your ability to discover and manifest new possibilities. Through a combination of step-by-step instructions, examples, exercises, and illustrations, you will learn how to clarify your goals, take steps to break through both internal and external obstacles, and discover how to transform your career and personal life into exactly what you’ve always wanted. from the Amazon review

Ted Demopoulos

Secrets of Successful Blogging

Ted has generously provided a pile of his book Secrets of Successful Blogging to the conference. This popular tome is has had rave reviews from everyone who has had a chance to use it. Amazon says: 101+ tips for blogging more efficiently, effectively, and profitably, gleamed from interviewing hundreds of people who concretely benefit from the blogosphere. from the Amazon review

And Gift Books Too!

Tim Johnson

GUST

Tim is bringing his hot-off-the-presses, new book, Gust: The “Tale” Wind of Office Politics. Office politics are a fact of life in every company, but no one has ever told us how to use them to our advantage until now. Timothy Johnson has written a compelling, entertaining and deeply practical guide to navigating through the often-treacherous winds of office dynamics. You can t avoid company politics any more than you can dodge air molecules, so you may as well learn how to thrive in the midst of it. This wonderful book will show you how. —Steve Farber, Author, The Radical Leap: A Personal Lesson in Extreme Leadership and The Radical Edge: Stoke Your Business, Amp Your Life and Change the World

Rumor has it that

LorelleOnWordpress

Rumor has it that the famous Lorelle, that’s right Lorelle VanFossen of Lorelle on WordPress and The Blog Herald, will not only be at SOBCon, but will also introduce her brand new book for bloggers and will be providing a copy to every attendee courtesy of The Blog Herald, a SOBCon 07 Sponsor. Until then, the book title and contents are a secret.

Thank you to all of these generous people. Aren’t they great? If you see one, please say I told you what a big deal we all think their support is.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
SOBCon 07 — Be part of the most interactive and attendee-focused experience in blogging history.

The Mic Is On: We’re Art Crazy . . .

by

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 Art!

We might talk about

  • What makes it art?
  • How do you know it’s art?
  • Is that art?
  • graphic design, photography, ceramics, weaving, welding, spin art, calligraphy, graffiti, concrete, flower arranging, art therapy, music, cinema, theatre, architecture, poetry, dance
  • modern, renaissance, gothic, folk, fine
  • painting, drawing, sculpture, stained glass, blown glass, calligraphy
  • art history, art fairs, art galleries, art in the park
  • Art isn’t what you hang on a refrigerator.
  • Don’t drink and draw.

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 Art!

by

Yes the Mic Will Be on Tonight

Join Us Tonight for Tues. Open Comments

We’re Talking About Art!

Let’s talk about ART. What makes it art? How do you know it’s art? Graphic design, photography, ceramics, weaving, welding, spin art, calligraphy, graffiti, concrete, flower arranging, art therapy, music, cinema, theatre, architecture, poetry, dance, modern, renaissance, gothic, folk, fine, painting, drawing, sculpture, stained glass, blown glass, calligraphy, art history, art fairs, art galleries, art in the park, and anything else that comes up.

Art isn’t what you hang on a refrigerator.

Don’t drink and draw.

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

The rules are simple — be nice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?