Successful Blog

This Just In: Almost Real Secrets of Shel Israel Revealed

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Breaking News

As 2008 opens, we find that new information about Naked Conversations author Shel Israel has surfaced. Robert Scoble is said to be in shock and crestfallen to be caught unaware due to intrusions by Google. Over at Global Neighborhourhoods, once called the Red Couch, things seem slightly different.

Shel never participates in blog memes, but he tagged Toby and Liz just this week.

Has Shel been taken over by aliens?

The FBI, the CIA and the ABCs are looking over the highly esteemed blog for things out of place.
“Where’s the pods? Where’s the pod?s” the Director said.
One man was heard to say, “They’re here! They’re here!”
“Not the iPod, you idiot,” was the last that was heard.

Are the Stories True?

Did Shel once run for the Presidency of Spain?

Is that What Shel Said?

Shel was overheard remarking to Tris Hussey, “Nevermind. fuhgetaboutit.”

You’ll find all of the almost real secrets from Liz and Tony at Marketing Diva.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Photos via flickr by Victoriano and Donncha

Why Blog? . . . "Follow Your Calling" She Said

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A Calling

When I was 7 years old, my teacher told me to listen for my calling. She said if I listened to my heart and my mind, I would find the future that was right.

Liz Strauss as a child

My teacher said “You’ll know because you’ll be making a difference in people’s lives.” I remember exactly where I sat when I let her words into my head. That’s when I started thinking about the possibilities.

I grew up with more curiosity than wisdom. I traveled with my feet on the ground, my head in the sky. I needed 23 lives to follow the callings I heard. . . . be a teacher, be speaker, be a writer. I wanted to build things and fix things, and of course, to be smart, wealthy, and rich. I wanted the life of a freelancer and the community of a company at the same time.

I tried them all — even tried a few more that came along.

Still that thought hung with me, You’ll be making a difference in people’s lives.

I ended up an educational publisher. For a while, I felt it might be my calling, but I wondered was I really making a difference or just making books? I worked freelance. I worked company jobs. I worked on projects of so many kinds. I not only loved publishing; I knew, for sure, that I’d never get bored.

Then I did.

I went off on my own again.

Was I Called?

A friend did call to ask me, if I would write a blog for a science education company. I thought I’d better find out what was involved before I answered. So I started a blog.

Early on I met the most excellent people — so many of them — and found IT changed MY life! Though I went down some windy roads, when I thought of giving up, one of those first friends, Jeremy, said, “Why don’t you join b5media instead?” Though the network was plenty busy with the work of being born, they didn’t blink before they took me in. Suddenly I was a freelancer in a thriving community.

Later that year, Darren set a challenge to write blog goals. I wasn’t going to participate, but I did. That’s when I found that my blog is my home. That’s when I realized how much I am like my dad.

If you read what I wrote, it says,

You see, my father didn’t work at the saloon. He lived it. He also earned enough to feed a family and send three kids to school. Somehow in doing that, he managed to make a difference in people’s lives by sharing what he knew and who he was.

My blogging goal is to do the same thing
with my blog that my father did with his saloon.

and that’s why I blog.

As for why I keep blogging, well it’s because every now and then I’ll get an email that says

Aside from business, people desire answers, they are hoping that someone believes that there [are] answers, and that just maybe, they can have hope too. — Steve

and it makes me think I might be making a difference.

“Follow your calling” she said.
Thank you for helping me know what my calling is.

Now will you tell me? Is it a calling, a hobby, a quest?
Please tell me. Why do you blog?

Liz's Signature
The question, “Why Do You Blog?” is final week’s challenge of the b5media Apprentice Challenge. Over 30 blogs on the b5 Business Channel started the quest, only four are left: Accounting Solver . . .Home Biz Notes . . . Greener Assets . . . Successful Blog.
The winner will be chosen from one of these four.

Will you join in deciding who becomes the b5media Apprentice? Every comment you leave on a final challenge post counts as a vote! The voting is open until January 7th. So c’mon tell me why you do you blog!

Dot . Dot . Dot .

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Connecting dots with The Idea Dude

Connecting Dots logo

2007 has been the Year of the Blog for me. My passion to promote blogs and bloggers was the catalyst for the TheGoodBlogs. My mission was really very simple. Touched by the stories I read, inspired by the words of giants, I wanted the world to know these stories, these words. And most of all, these people. Ordinary people, like you and me but so special because they gave us gifts through their blogs every day. The gifts? their voices, their thoughts, their hearts.

Then I met Liz. Who can refuse the most simplest of invitations. Can we talk? From that conversation, I was drawn into a much larger community, SOBCON, the conference that taught us that blogging is about bloggers, relationships and conversations. Hope to see you there this year!.

Undoubtedly the highlight for me would be receiving the keys to this blog. It wasn’t about sharing a soapbox, it was about sharing a warm cozy living room where the best conversations could be found. Right here, every Sunday, we connected dots. Each dot, a blogger, connected with others through words of wisdom, joy, sadness and every other emotion possible. I felt like a treasure hunter, delighting in every gem I found, eager to share each one with you.

Alas this will be the last connecting dots post for a while. Is this the end? Hopefully not, but it is a pause as I need to step back to figure out where the next part of this journey should take.

Successful-blog remains one of my favorite blogs just as Liz will always be one favorite bloggers. This blog like its host has become a constant in my blogging life. So you’ll see me in the comments and open-mic night. Why? because this is where my friends hang out, where the conversation is always great, where the laughter is infectious, where the hearts are bigger and the brains are smarter… and where I know I belong.

May the dots be with you!

Vern, The Idea Dude

On a Blue December Night: Asking Why Do Givers Not Ask to Be Paid?

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relationships button

This year, 2007, has been one of learning and getting a business off the ground. Along the way, I have made my mistakes in choosing the folks I’ve worked with, and I’ve been blessed by working with folks who were heroes in every way.

But the hardest one of all I had to deal with was, by far, myself.

First, I had to learn to value what I do.

Then, I had to learn how to explain it to others.

Finally, I’m learning I have to ask them — tell them — that I need to get paid.

Sounds simple doesn’t it?
Yeah, it’s a lecture I’ve given often enough to everyone. You could probably find several versions of it right here on the pages of this very blog.

Yet, twice in the last week, I heard someone say, “I’m not giving free advice anymore” at the same time he was asking for free advice from me.

All I said was, “Yeah, I know people do the same thing to me.”

So I guess you could say that a couple of good friends sat me down. Well, they’ve been trying for a while now, but I’m a slippery character. Maybe I’m at a point where it means something, like whether I’ll keep blogging, or maybe I’m just growing up and ready to take responsibility. Or maybe it’s that I think it’s time that I build my own dream.

Whatever the case, one of them challenged me to answer the question in a blog post. This is it.

“Why do givers not ask to be paid?”

I cycled through the answers. You might be surprised with where I landed. I sure was. But, when I tested my answer, it held up. And, when I handed it back, the questioner agreed.

blue light traces

Is it pride?
No, I think of the givers I know. They’re not prideful people. They’d humble themselves for a cause.

Is it fear?
Not really. The real givers I know would walk through fire for the people they care about.

Is it a disdain for money?
Not a chance. Givers I know understand that money is a tool that makes it easier to give more and more generously.

So what is it then?

It’s the DNA of a giver. A giver lives generosity from the cellular level. Giving is without strings.

It’s not sensible and sure won’t pay the rent.

So how do I draw the line between the giver and the business person?

I’m asking for your advice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Psst! Want a Peek at What's Coming . . . at SOBCon08?

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Finally a Few Things We Can Tell You!

Sorry we’ve kept you waiting.
The hotel from last year doubled its rate.
A convention or two has gotten in our way.

But things are breaking open now, and we’re pleased to show you . . .


. . . click the logo to see more.

This year it’s “Biz School for Bloggers.” Whether you blog for your business, your business is blogging, or you want to understand the works behind a blog you’re just starting, this is an incredible team-based learning experience that you won’t want to miss.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be filling out the details for you.

Can’t wait to tell you more!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Dots resolving to change

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Connecting dots with The Idea Dude

Connecting Dots logo

December for me is a great time to take stock of what I managed to achieve during this year and then look at all the things that perhaps fell through the cracks or activities I could have managed better. New Year Resolutions for me aren’t radical changes but adjustments that I remind myself to make over time.

Resolving to succeed

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Ben’s right about most of the resolutions we make each year. They never seem to last, fading as fast as the winter sun. Most resolutions are about ourselves and how we think we should be or could be better. I think we often look at ourselves and find the things we dislike the most. Then by uttering a few magic words wrapped in a bow called a New Year resolution, we hope they will go away. Of course they don’t.

Resolving to choose wisely

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Choosing resolutions that have some hope of making a making difference to us must have all of the following ingredients.

  • It must matter to us. It can’t be something copied from someone because it sounded good and altruistic.
  • It must be measurable. Anything that isn’t measurable in a tangible or meaningful has no hope of succeeding like starting a journey without knowing where it will end.
  • We must enjoy doing it. Motivation is generally fueled by the emotion that something we do makes us feel so good, we want to keep doing it.
  • The changes we make should impact those around us. Because our momentum is increased by their feedback and their well-being.

Resolving to change positively

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What is a resolution really but a commitment to change oneself and all around us in a positive way. Liz has the best advice about how to make positive changes stick. She’s right of course when she says, When you make a positive change that sticks, other positive things will happen too.

Resolving to be kinder to ourselves

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Angela reminds us to be kinder to ourselves. What a wonderful idea. We do tend to beat ourselves up for not doing something or not doing enough of other things. At the end of the day, we are all human with frailties and failings. But we are also endowed with character that helps we look forward to just being a little better than the day before.

Being kinder to ourselves makes us kinder to others too!
This is my wish for all of us.

May the dots be with you!

Vern, The Idea Dude