What Chris Cree said . . . About Making a Difference

November 15, 2008 by Liz

A community isn’t built or befriended,
it’s connected by offering and accepting.
Community is affinity, identity, and kinship
that make room for ideas, thoughts, and solutions.
Wherever a community gathers, we aspire and inspire each other intentionally . . . And our words shine with authenticity.

Does It Matter that We’re Here?

So many people are in the world. So many problems large and small. We watch and maybe wonder where we fit, what we might do. So many days it can seem that any effort is sure to fail. How could one person possibly make a difference in the world?

Here’s what Chris Cree said . . .

My suggestion is to start where you are and do what you can.

Iâm reminded of the story of the grandfather walking the beach where thousands of starfish had been stranded by the tide. As he walked along he would reach down grab a starfish and toss it back into the sea.

His grandson asked him why he bothered. With all those stranded starfish there was no way he could really make a difference.

As he held up the next starfish the grandfather responded, âTo this one starfish I can make all the difference in the world.â

comment on December 27, 2006

A successful and outstanding blogger said that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

The Mic is On: We're Going on a Road Trip!

March 11, 2008 by Liz

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.

Liz is Out of Town & Weâ€™re Going On a Road Trip

Liz is on the road heading home from SXSW tonight.

But never fear she left me the keys to the blog so Open Comment Night is SO on. And while we’re talking it up we’ll be munching on our Klondike Bars and whatever else Liz left us in the side bar.

Bwaaah-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Here are some ideas to get us started

Favorite Road Trip Stories
Places We’d Most Like to Visit
Must-have Road Trip Items
Passing the Time on the Road

And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and did I mention Klondike Bars? (because we always get off topic, anyway.)

Oh, and bring example links to share — especially examples of great road trip destinations!

–Chris Cree

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: We're Going on a Road Trip

March 11, 2008 by Chris Cree

Liz is Out of Town & We’re Going On a Road Trip

Liz is on the road heading home from SXSW tonight. But never fear she left me the keys to the blog so Open Comment Night is SO on.

Bwaaah-ha-ha-ha-ha!

We might talk about favorite road trip stories, places we’d most like to visit, must have road trip items, passing the time on the road, and especially Klondike Bars! (Mmmmm….)

Oh, and bring example links to share — especially examples of great road trip destinations!

The rules are simple — be nice.

Do be nice. 🙂

–Chris Cree

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Thank You, Lisa and Chris!

February 4, 2008 by Liz

Dear Lisa and Chris,
I write you as family, because, for me, that’s how it is. I know it was a tough decision to give up your roles in SOBCon08. Don’t think for a second that it changes a thing. Your hands, hearts, and minds are woven through the SOBCon reality that we made from air. No one at SOBCon07 could possibly remember the event without remembering both of you.

But your life, your new business, the future you’re building is a giant dream. It’s worth the journey you’ve set yourselves on. It will be amazing to watch you as you grow your business into your potential. I can’t imagine anything in your way. I sure can see the good things you will do and make.

How could I not have mixed feelings about seeing you leave the team?
I’ll miss your shoulders next to mine. Wonderful folks will help pick up the work, but it will be a long while before I stop looking for the two of you.

But I won’t miss your voice on the phone, because we’ll still take all of the time. . . . and I’ll still see you in Chicago in May!

To SOBCon Founders, Chris and Lisa Cree,
Blessings and Love on your new business,
and the biggest congratulations of my heart.

Thank you,

Work with Liz!! SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

Liz's Thematic Links Story: Lorelle's Blogging Birthday Quest

August 30, 2007 by Liz

I Promised I Would Write This Story

In response to the Joanna’s Thematic Links Post WritingChallenge, I promised I would use the titles to write a story. Here is the story that I wrote.

Lorelle’s Blogging Birthday Quest

Once upon a time, a sweet young lady called Lorelle set out to celebrate her blog’s birthday. She went on a quest to find her passion. Seeking knowledge, success, and wisdom, Lorelle went to to the lighthouse at SuccessCREEations. There she saw Chris, the wizard, she had met at SOBCon07. Lorelle was sure that he could help.

In her swirling teal green dress that matched the logo on her blog, Lorelle timidly knocked on the lighthouse door. A very tall, but kindly, Chris pulled back the huge and creaky door. He held a Klondike bar as he looked down, down, down to see the young lady in the swirling teal green dress that matched the swirling logo on her blog. She was looking up, up, up at him.

She noticed that her neck was getting a little crick and stepped back a step.

“I’ve decided to take on more — show people real Blog writing with a purpose,” Lorelle said.

Chris questioned whether he should Fan the Flames. He listened as she spoke.

“I’ve done The Recommended Weekly Readings (2007-08-18). Project Management, ” Lorelle said, sounding like a cross between an encyclopedia and a librarian.

“I was just about to do a blog myself,” Chris said. “It’s called ‘Weekly Wrap-up: War on Clutter.’ Would you like to watch? First of course, I have to clean up the clutter.”

Lorelle caught on right away. “You want me to help you clean your lighthouse. No way!!”

“Perhaps, then . . . ” Chris said, thoughtfully. “Frankly Lorelle, I worry about Google and the Privacy Dilemma. We shouldn’t be in the lighthouse alone. Maybe you should go out to play.”

But our little Lorelle was not to be stopped.

Everyone who knows, knows that you don’t get in the way of a determined Lorelle. She crossed her arms across her chest firmly and stamped one foot in a lovely black patent-leather shoe (that looked so elegant with the teal green dress that matched her blog.) “Why go out and Play when you can be Inside Blogging?”

As the two stood on the doorstep of the lighthouse, several bloggers walked by.

“There you go!” Chris said, seeing opportunity. “Hey, Jon!”

Jon and Brad walked over. Jon said, “Yeah, Chris?”

“Lorelle here wants the “How to Best Pitch Bloggers – a Virtual Group Interview” Speech. Are you the guy who does that?”

“Nope,” said Jon. Brad said, “That would be Jan. He’s out showing GP Why Writing a Link Post Should Be Like Planning a Party. I don’t think you’ll be finding him for a while.”

“What do you guys do that’s a cool blogging trick?” Lorelle asked, stomping her other lovely black patent leather shoe that looked so elegant with her teal green dress that swirled in the same color as her blog logo.

Together the two men said, “We know How to read feeds without driving yourself mad.

“I already know that.” Lorelle said.

A woman named Anastasia walked up to offer Lorelle A learning whirlpool.

Lorelle immediately backed off protecting her lovely black patent leather shoes that looked so elegant with her teal green dress that swirled in the same color as her blog logo.

“Error Retrieving What You Wished For! Retry? Y/N?” asked Alina.

“What are you talking about?” Lorelle asked, not at all sure these ladies were talking about blogs.

“Shared Answers – Final Roundup & the Winner” said Yvonne.

“I don’t want my horoscope read,” Lorelle exclaimed. “I just want to be Linking with intention even When writing means spirit spilling.”

“You should rest. After all next week is A New Week. You might feel differently by then.” Chris finally said to Lorelle.

As Chris walked Lorelle back to her blog, the teal green one with the swirly logo down the road — the one that matched the dress that looked so elegant with the lovely black patent leather shoes. The two travelers were passing a tiny blog when they heard a woman’s voice say, I’m just writing to say thanks.

“Who’s that?” Lorelle asked.

“Can’t tell.” Chris said. “It’s either Liz or Joanna. They’re both always saying stuff like that.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

What is He Talking About? Chris Cree on Hard Work

July 28, 2007 by Chris Cree

“The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work.” –Harry Golden

The Blame Game

We live in a lottery culture. Instant gratification is the working model we are presented with most times. If it doesn’t happen right away, then most folks tend to give up.

When they give up they tend to fall into one of two categories, both of which are looking to find a place outside themselves to affix the blame for their lack of success. I guess our psyches are somehow wired in such a way that as long as there is an outside source that we can point to as the cause of our circumstance, then we can press on without facing the pain of actually working though our own part in events leading up to where we find ourselves.

This blame phenomenon is so prevalent in our culture that we used to joke about it when I was in the Navy. “It doesn’t matter if you fix the problem as long as you fix the blame.”

The first category of blame fixers either point to some entity as the cause of their circumstances (“I can’t save any money because the government taxes me too much.”) or they will double down on their circumstances and blame one circumstance for another (“I can never be wealthy because I was born poor”).

When I ask one of these folks how they are doing I’ll probably hear something like, “{Sigh} OK. Under the circumstances.” I want to fire right back, “What are you doing under there?”

But usually I don’t. [Read more…]