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Connecting by Being Connected

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I've been thinking . . .

about connections.

When my head, heart, and purpose are aligned, life is in working order. Words and ideas come easily. Work is a pleasure. People are a wonder and joy.

When I suffer a disconnect from my head, heart, or purpose, I lose track of that smoothness. Colors fade. Tasks get big and boring. Smiles get harder to find. I see with tired eyes. The disconnect disturbs me.

When I look for angels everywhere, they appear in all generosity. When I speak with care and confidence, people respond with the same. When I trust myself, people are trustworthy, and they trust me. When I work hard, people offer help.

I see in other people what I first see in myself.

Community begins inside me.

It’s huge thought.

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The Mic is On: It's about the State of…

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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.

… the Blogosphere!

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Let’s start with:

  • What’s changed since we started blogging?
  • What do we miss about when we didn’t blog at all?
  • What are we most grateful that we found in the Blogosphere?
  • What are we most concerned won’t stay the same?

And, we’ll talk about 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 links about the blogosphere to share!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Image Source: flickr

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: It's about the State of…

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Join Us Tonight

… the Blogosphere!

We might talk about what’s changed since we started blogging, what we miss about when we didn’t blog at all, what we are most grateful that we found in the Blogosphere, and whatever else comes up, even flamenco dancing.

Oh, and bring example links to share — about the state of the Blogosphere.

The rules are simple — be nice.

Do be nice. 🙂

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Where Are You in the Blogging Gold Rush?

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History Has a Way of Repeating Itself

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A recent article in the NY Times went on in detail about the digital sweatshop — bloggers who work at home paid to write by the post. It held up the deaths of two bloggers and the heart attack of a third. Then it followed that with quotes by big-name bloggers to underscore the point that blogging isn’t good for our health.

Other bloggers complain of weight loss or gain, sleep disorders, exhaustion and other maladies born of the nonstop strain of producing for a news and information cycle that is as always-on as the Internet.

It distressed me to read this, because I see the reality behind it.
But it distressed me more, because I see the misperceptions glaring back.

We need to see reality to make healthy choices about stress.

Though it uses the word, emerging the article makes blogging sound like a fully grown industry. It’s not.

Business Pioneers — A Blogging Gold Rush

Blogging is not an industry no matter how we dress it up or talk about it. An industry has a structure that has established itself with conventions and models that prove themselves time. We’re still living in “carve a path” pioneer times. The business of blogging is still trying to prove viability.

Lately it seems I meet three sorts — blogging gold rushers, business pioneers, and those who watch.

During the gold rush, some folks went with dreams of striking it rich by panning the water and having luck. Some folks chronicled the adventure. Some folks watched. Business pioneers — folks with plans and business models — built places for people to eat, sleep, buy goods, and get entertained. Fewer folks, business pioneers with determination and long vision, built railroads, communication systems, dams, and business empires. Some folks worked for companies who were doing those things. Some of those workers got paid well. Some did not. In between them all were shysters who came to make fast cash and run.

Some folks won. Some folks cheated. Some folks reported events. Some folks lost. Some folks didn’t participate at all.

Where are you in this blogging gold rush?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Have a plan! Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

See the WordCamp Dallas Videos at Your Leisure.

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Word Camp 2008

Some folks have emailed asking where they might see the WordCamp Dallas presentations. Here are the videos released so far.

Liz Strauss WordCamp Dallas 2008

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Liz Strauss – Cmon, Lets Talk! It was a totally bad hair day, but the words went well — Well most of them.

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Lorelle VanFossen – WordPress Power Tips

Jonathan Bailey — Detect and Stop Content Theft

WordCamp Dallas 2008: The WordPress Podcast

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Cali Lewis and Neal Campbell

WordCamp Dallas 2008: John Pozadzides’ 45 Ways to Power Up Your Blog

WordCamp Dallas 2008: Matt Mullenweg, WordPress 2.5 and Beyond

Thanks to the folks who did the video and to John P. for posting them.

— ME “Liz” Strauss
Image source: John P.
Need help with writing? Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. All of that expertise in one room! Register now!

How Do You Balance the Insecurity and Confidence to Write on the Internet?

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Powerful Writers Are Insecure Too

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Every writer is an interesting juxtaposition of confidence and insecurity. We really need both. Without the confidence the words would never make it together. Without the insecurity, the writing would come second to deciding how we’re going to spend our money from the fabulous words we write down.

Get the balance right, and you have fear and boldness, without “perfection paranoia.” The fear is born in the insecurity. The boldness is the confidence that keeps paranoia away.

When our thoughts are on concrete, we wrap the two of them −- insecurity and confidence — in a satchel of hope. We set them down gently in the faith of the language and carry them as a shield and a sword.

But when our thoughts are on sand . . . we have trouble balancing. We wonder if our intelligence could be coming from a fool’s heart. The shield of insecurity melts the power of our words. The sword of our confidence bends at uncertain thoughts.

That balance between insecurity and confidence is how the good writing ideas come and flow. Here’s what I tell myself when I want to balance my insecurity and confidence . . .

  • Turn off the noise of the Internet for a short while.
  • Know what you want to say. Relax and reflect until you are clear about it.
  • Write with head, heart, and purpose all focused on the truth of that message.
  • Write in your own voice to friends who don’t know yet what you’re going to tell them.
  • After it’s written, read and listen to be sure it’s inviting and there’s room for others to join in.
  • Trust yourself and the people who read what you write.

I follow my advice, and I publish again.

How do you balance the insecurity and confidence of writing to publish on the Internet?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Need help with writing? Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. All of that expertise in one room! Register now!