bc Archives - Page 712 of 959

Truly Unique and Outstanding Blogs — Recap Week 1

March 5, 2007 by Liz

A Recap of the Facts

On Monday, February 26 I started looking for 200 Unique Blogs. . . . I said that the blogs I am looking for are

are one-of-a kind, stand-out, nothing-like-it, wow-will-you-look-at-that. only-one, wish-I-had-that-idea blogs. Every blog in the bunch will be outstanding in its own way.

Many people came to offer suggestions. Many people came for many reasons.

John Said This Would Be Interesting

John, a wise, money man and bartender at the sidebar, predicted that it would be interesting to watch. John only said that because he knows me.

Part of the fun and intrigue of a project like this is the opportunity to see blogger behavior. I found three kinds of people seemed to show up.

The Authentic Participants These folks saw value in the project and took on the challenge with sincerity. They read the original post; offered blogs they believed in; and contributed to the discussion fully.
The Hopeful Attendees These nice folks brought a blog, often their own blog. Their comments seemed to show that they didn’t fully read the post or perhaps didn’t understand the goal the post had stated. Many of these blogs were almost there, but all of the parts didn’t seem to fit together seamlessly.
The Opportunists I shy from that term, but I couldn’t find another term that seemed to fit. These folks saw an opportunity to promote their blog and in some cases, their product or service. The blogs they left were unremarkable.

It’s also interesting how all who left links seemed to undervalue the impact of design on readers.

Round 2 — Let’s Keep Looking!

Comments have been closed at the old post and this one is open.
I redefine the quest here:

A unique and outstanding blog is one so compelling and remarkable that it sticks with you — days later you still want to tell folks to experience it. A unique and outstaninding blog has an amazing impact on a reader. It is unforgettable to both the adult and the kid in you.

I’m still looking for 200 one-of-a kind, stand-out, nothing-like-it, wow-will-you-look-at-that. only-one, wish-I-had-that-idea blogs. Every blog in the bunch will be outstanding in its own way.

Fifteen Blogs that Stand Out in a Crowd

Each of these blogs is exceptional for one reason and executes well in other facets. That’s why they stand out in a crowd. [The numbers do not represent an order. They only represent a count. Nor does this listing ensure that any blog will remain all the way through to the final 200. Also note: I’m looking for 200 outstanding and unique blogs, NOT a top 200.]

NMC Virtual Worlds a program of the New Media Consortium

http://virtualworlds.nmc.org/

the thinking blog by ilker oldas

http://ilkeryoldas.blogspot.com/

Very Short Novels by David Dale

http://davidbdale.wordpress.com/

Knife Gun Pen by Robert Bruce

http://www.knifegunpen.com/

ha.ckers by Nick and others

http://ha.ckers.org/

From Where I Sit by Michael Hyatt

http://www.michaelhyatt.com/fromwhereisit/

Can Google Hear Me [dot] com

http://www.cangooglehearme.com/index.php?

Creating Passionate Users by Kathy Sierra and Dan Russell

http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/

Engaging the Disquiet by Dave Schoof

http: //thedisquiet.com/index.php?

Hungry for Hunger

http://hungryforhunger.blogspot.com/

Logivc+Emotion by David Armano

http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/

bla.st

http://bla.st/site/blog/61/

The Occupational Adventure by Curt Rosengren

http://curtrosengren.typepad.com/occupationaladventure/

The dullest blog in the world

http://www.wibsite.com/wiblog/dull/

Bento Box

http://bentobox.bzzagent.com/

How many more can we find?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Change the World: The Power of WE

March 5, 2007 by Liz

The Power of Offering

In a chain of events last week, an idea and a new relationship were born. That idea will continue to form new relationships as it grows. Throughout the story is what Phil Gerbyshak calls “The Power of WE.” Here is what happened.

Chris Owen from Pink Apple Connections wrote about how, if Australia were closer she could be part of SOBcon 07. Leah MacLean wrote about Chris’ post with a suggestion and a questionn about how SOBcon started. Leah’s post generated a pile of comments and a possible Australian conference in the making. It also led to a message from me.

Leah and I met Skype — a brand new relationship. I told her how the relationships at Succeesful-Blog were the seed for the SOBcon event. By the time that call was over, Leah and I were planning a new, virtual event across the dateline.

Working Solo and Successful Blog present the Virtual SOBcon preconference event on March 12.

Chris’ post and her wish to be at a conference with her “mate Phil” put so many things into motion. It started my relationship with Leah and an entirely new event. All of that happened because some folks wanted to have a conference in Chicago. It’s incredible what happens when we engage the Power of WE.

We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
______________
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.

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.

SOBCon ’07 Sponsor Evoca Offering Value to Attendees

March 5, 2007 by SOBCon Authors

We are working very hard to make SOBCon ’07 and “attendee centric” event. Our attitude is that everyone who attends brings value to the table. This conference is about helping you take your blog to the next level.

So it is in that spirit of adding value to our attendees that we are pleased to announce what event sponsor Evoca has agreed to do for all of you.

Evoca is offering all attendees to SOBCon ’07 a one year complimentary Professional Account with their service.

That, my friends is a $60 value.

And it’s your’s just for attending SOBCon ’07!

With that account you get 200 minutes of recording time. And you can record to that account either using Evoca’s browser mic, your telephone, or even record straight from Skype!

Here’s what their web site describes their service and how it works: [Read more…]

Bloggy Question 39: It’s My Presentation . . . What’s the One Thing?

March 4, 2007 by Liz

Pick the Hit for the Playlist

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life not-so-hypothetical question. . . .

We do it when we go to concerts. We’re hoping they’ll play that one song. . . .

With SOBCon07 just 9 weeks away, I have my presentation coming together in a uniquely Liz-like fashion. Based on a true a story, the saga will reveal through photos and bloggy observations how a bashful, clumsy, toddler grew through her gawky, invisible teenage existence into adulthood gathering knowledge as a writer to finally find that everything she learned about blogging, she learned in two places — her father’s saloon and dancing school.

It will be a comedy and an interactive relationship experience. However, as with any production I know, folks will come with preconceived notions of what they hope I will include. And to be frank — I know I’m Liz, but you know what I mean.– I want folks to get that one thing they’re hoping for.

So I’m asking, if you were going to SOBcon 07 — even if you can’t, suppose you were — what one thing just has to be part of my presentation “playlist” for folks to got what they came for? “What one thing would you hope that I would talk about?

Write your one thing in the comment box and I’ll fit your ideas in my time to talk.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Introducing Thomas R. Clifford, the Blog

March 4, 2007 by Liz

SOB Hall of Famer: Thomas R. Clifford

Thomas R. Clifford is a award-winning documentary filmmaker. His Director Tom blog focuses on igniting conversations by helping people tell their story authentically and dynamically. His passion for the past 23 years has been filmming remarkable stories from remarkable organizations. Tom uses that passion that has produced films for a variety of organizations — including The NFL Hall of Fame, Deloitte, and more — to give readers a look into the “what and how” of corporate filmmaking.

Tom also co-produced a one hour worldwide documentary entitled, “The Men Who Brought the Dawn.” It featured the surviving airmen who flew both atomic missions to Japan. A shorter version was produced for the NASM at the Smithsonian Institution to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the atomic missions.That experience and expertise shines throughout his remarkable blog.

Notes from Liz: When I spoke with Tom on the phone, his enthusiasm for the blogosphere and for sharing what he does was wildly contagious. When he talks about making corporate films, he talks about diamonds . . . “the job is not done until they are cut perfectly.” It’s easy to see why he calls the folks he films at each organization heroes — he makes sure that he tells the story in a way that they truly are. Tom’s blog is energy, information, and techniques, made readable.

Thanks, Tom, for wanting to share what you’ve learned in your award-winning career.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Has your SOB Blog Been Introduced to US?
Blog Promotion: May I Introduce You?

About that Road . . .

March 4, 2007 by Liz

The Roads Not Traveled

It started with William Tully’s post, New meme? (likely not), in which he considers the “5 Goals He Never Took Seriously.” William gently tapped Robert Hruzek on the shoulder, asking what his answer to the same question would be. Robert wrote a post called The Roads Not Traveled in which he describes goals that “didn’t make the cut.” At the end of his post, Robert passes the question to David Armano, Matthew Stibbe, and me. It appears those two are like the boys in the neighborhood where I grew up — they’re waiting for me to go first. So here I go.

As soon as I saw Robert’s post I was reminded of a silly psychological test that asks for four descriptions. (You might want to read that test, to find out about your road and my road, before you read on. Go ahead, I’ll wait here.)

I bring up that test and my road, because my road has been such good one. It has wound and turned and let me try to so many things. It has been a windy road indeed. I’ve been a teacher since I was 10, a wholesale shirt sales rep, a writer, editor, and publisher, and a corporate strategist.

Yeah, my road is a windy one. My friend, Peg says she’s never seen me walk in a straight line. So thinking up goals that I never followed is nigh on to impossible. I’ve been thinking for days about Robert’s challenge and here’s what I found.

Five Goals I Never, Ever Wanted to Pursue

It seems as if I tried most things that I thought I might want to be part of my life. But there were some side roads that I was happy to walk right by. Those roads might be just as worthy an answer, at least I hope so, because here they are.

I never, ever wanted to be a doctor, nurse, dentist, or any other sort of healthcare professional. Even when I was short and still in grade school, I didn’t want to give people injections or have to make them hurt to help them get better.
I never, ever wanted to be a skydiver, a moutain climber, bungee jumper, or a wingwalker. Falling from high places wasn’t my idea of a good time.
I never, ever wanted to be a astronaut, live on a spaceship, or be an astronomer. I like to keep my relationship with the universe on a romantic and magical plane of wonder.
I never, ever wanted to be a roadie, a groupie, or a raging fan. I’m not good a racing after, lugging stuff, or in general being part of groups that follow blindly. I get bored too easily.
I never, ever wanted to be a clueless, dorky, invisible teenager, but I managed to be one anyway. Go figure.

Life has so much to offer and I’ve always found that each new step is one that perfectly followed the step that was before it. I never spent too much time thinking about where I had to get, I always knew I’d be getting somewhere outstanding, if I followed what I do well and what I love.

There was the day I realized that I was too old to be a major league baseball player . . . but that was so long ago I can’t remember how that felt.

They say turnabout is fair play. I’m not sure this is what they meant. What are the things on your list of never, ever wanted to do?

–ME “Lia” Strauss