Successful Blog

Simple Dots

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Connecting dots with The Idea Dude

Connecting Dots logo

Life is simple, we make it complex.

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I took Joel’s advice to forget the sensational and look for the simple pleasures. We look at all the wonderful details of the good moments. We find the intensity in life’s simple moments, and simple pleasures.

This week I breathed pure air on a mountain 7,500 feet high, looked down a gorge 230 feet below, was dwarfed by trees 200 feet high and watched salmon jump upstream.

For me the simple became sensational.

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Simple things reminded me of what I read earlier today about what life is all about.We tend to forget about others in our pursuit for excellence, knowledge and improving self. Oh, I need to get this certification, I need to do it by this day, I need to …. I forgot that it was summer, I broke the promises, of going for a walk, riding the bike, many many times..

At this point, I decided to stop looking for dots this week, because they were right here next to me all the time and each needed a hug on our last day of vacation.

Must be the full moon this week, I read Liz’s post I’m dying to blog tonight… but I just don’t feel like it. In my case, I’m dying to blog tonight, but if I do, I risk missing my plane back to civilization in 4 hours and I need my sleep.

Sometimes life truly is that simple.

May the dots be with you!

Vern, The Idea Dude

Thanks to Week 97 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 all 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

A Puzzler for a Fun Post and a Little Labor Day Link Love

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How-cool-is-this!!!

Here’s some fun for a Holiday Weekend.

  1. Copy the unfinished story below into your post box.

  2. Fill in the blanks to finish the story. For most of the blanks use a blogger’s name, a trait, a post title, a blog title — get creative. Finish each sentence in an unexpected way. You can find plenty of links to spark your imagination at the A-Z directory.

  3. Link the text you added back to the blog or blogger you’re referencing.

  4. Be creative. Change the words or storyline as you wish in order to fit in the links you like.

  5. When you’re done, leave a link with the title to your version of the story in the comment box below.

I’ll do something creative with the links you leave. I’ll collect the links to your titles at 2pm CST on Saturday, September 7, 2007, that way folks who are traveling can have a chance to play.

My version of the story follows the blank one.

Title: _______________________________

_____ was _____ , when out of the blue _____ . You might think this is strange,

but in _____ such things happen all of the time. Our brave and quirky hero knew

exactly what to do — _____ , but our brave and quirky hero had no _____ .

Seeking help for this dilemma, our hero headed down the road to _____ .

The road passed three creatures — each of them was more interesting than the

next. The first was _____ . The second was

_____ . The third was _____ . Our brave and quirky hero ran the rest of the way,

and when _she_ got there, she got another surprise!

“_____ !” our hero exclaimed.

“_____ ,” _____ answered.

“I was _____ , when out of the blue _____ .” our brave and quirky hero said, knees

shaking. “Could you spare _____ ?”

And so it passed that _____ gave our brave and quirky hero _____ AND _____

and all was well.

You might think this is strange, but in _____ such things happen all of the time.

Conversation Agent “ was practicing Essential Keystrokes, when out of the blue a Geek With Laptop appeared. You might think this is strange, but in the thinking blog such things happen all of the time. Our brave and quirky hero knew exactly what to do — She had to Manage to Change, but our brave and quirky hero had no Random Good Stuff.

Seeking help for this dilemma, our hero headed down the road to Polliwog’s Pond. The road passed three creatures — each of them was more interesting than the next. The first was Just Thinkin’. The second had been Sippin’ Whisky and frankly, he seemed long gone from this world. The third was Juggling Frogs. Our brave and quirky hero ran the rest of the way. When she got there she got another surprise!

“A Miracle Man!” our hero exclaimed.

“That’s me,” Dawud answered.

“I was practicing Essential Keystrokes, when out of the blue a Geek With Laptop appeared.” our brave and quirky hero said, knees shaking. “Could you spare 45 Things?”

And so it passed that Smart Wealthy Rich Dawud gave our brave and quirky hero 45 Things AND Six Degrees of Inspiration and all was well.

You might think this is strange, but in the thinking blog such things happen all of the time.

Liz's Signature

SOB Business Cafe 08-31-07

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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

Seth’s Blog knew four years ago what’s true today.

Logic and Emotion explains lifestreaming beautifully.

Codswallop has a mindful series to show us.

Life Coaches learned a few things about stress.

Spooky Action went beyond history with his five choices.

Reader Appreciation Project has a great discussion about guest blogging.

Carpe Factum has been taking headline writing lessons from Tony D. Clark.

David Airey has a hint on finding inspiration.

Related ala carte selections include

Reality Wired has found a new use for Adsense.

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!

Imagine a Blue Sky, Blissful Weekend

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Oh my wow! It’s Friday, again! Already!

What did I do this week? What didn’t I get done? What miracles did I make? What wishes didn’t come? What went right? What went wrong? Who were those cranky people I had to calm down? Who were the ones who gave me such support?

Will I spend my weekend reliving my week over and over?

Is that what time is for. Is that what life is about?

No, no. Not my life.

When I’m in that last five minutes of my life and when I’m in the five minutes that come after, I want to be thinking of the time I spent being alive.

I want my life to be about living.

I can imagine a wonderful weekend. I can hang the moon in the daylight sky. I can fill the night with colorful lights and people who have great ideas. I can imagine being with friends who understand that living isn’t always easy, but it’s always about thinking and caring, and remembering to breathe.

I can imagine a blue sky, blissful weekend.

Then I can make it happen.