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The Mic Is On: We're Talking Ideal Workplace, the Ideal Work

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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.

Where Do Circus People Run Away to?

So running away isn’t such a good idea … BUT, if you could set up work anywhere, where would you be right now? How could balance what you’re doing with where you’d most love to do it?

  • private island?
  • Monte Carlo?
  • mountain cabin?
  • a favorite city apartment with a penthouse view?

Now that you’ve got the location … what would you be doing?

And, 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 example links.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
image: sxc.hu
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What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Comments

  16. I would love to be working near a beach too( wonder if they get wifi near the ocean)…sounds good about now, just wanted to pop in and say hello, have to run a kid to tennis, in fact thats what I love to do too..spend time with the kids and be on the computer…

    Reply

  22. OK, here is a really weird technical question and I’m not sure if it’s caused by Vista or by Toshiba.

    If my mouse is positioned anywhere on the page, my cursor will sync to where my mouse is every few seconds (which makes typing ANYTHING a royal pain in the carriage return)

    Suggestions?

    Reply

  24. Howdy all, stoppin by for few minutes before supper. Pouring cats and dogs here. so much rain is good for agriculture, bad for attitude. Love what Joe said in #13 – I need a t-shirt with that on it. I have not been in that place today at all. I have either been cold, on hold, or not feeling too bold:)

    Reply

  26. Tim, believe it or not, it may be the way you position your hands over the pad when you are typing.
    It happened to me until I actually raised my hands just a little off the prone position. (Better for Carpel Tunnel too).
    Try that FIRST.

    Reply

  28. Timothy, you’re in KC at the Plaza! OMG! You’re like 25 miles from me! Sending you virtual hugs through the air (which is very nice today) Whatcha doing in town?

    Reply

  38. Well I hope you have a wonderful visit, Timothy. Weather is supposed to turn a bit uglier I’m afraid. Going to get colder and rain/snow mix is expected. Still nice to feel so “close” to you!

    Erica, my “work” is caring for my mother-in-law who has Parkinson’s, and writing, which I do right here at home where I am now 🙂 How about you?

    Reply

  41. Tim my Dell 1501 Inspiron Lappy IS that way, the pad is right where I position my hands when I type!?!
    Maybe it’s just me, but when I type correctly, the problem goes away. 😉

    Reply

  43. Timothy, I am no genius about computers, but I recall there is some sort of setting that will set your mouse to automatically go to a certain spot on a web page…like if you have a choice between yes or no on a form, the default is “yes”. But I don’t know that the setting would be what is causing your issue. Sorry to hear you’re having trouble though!

    Reply

  52. Liz – me too now that it Freudianly slipped out:)

    Marti – I do a collage of things – life coaching, writing, financial literacy coaching, managing a team that sells internet ads, nap, QiGong, eat organic. And swear sometimes:) All of which I can do from anywhere…but my favorite spot to do so is in the San Juan Islands off the coast of WA state where I can watch the Orca whales at the same time.

    Reply

  54. Ok, Glenda, I knew you could do it! 🙂
    Now, we have to see if Tim can figure out his little mouse in the house running around rapidly ruining his rampages of rabit ravings/ 😉

    Reply

  56. Yes, Timothy, I feel terrible that I get out so seldom. There are several local social media groups and tweet-ups held here, but I never get to attend. I could send you links for their groups so you could meet other locals, they sound like really nice people. My schedule is usually filled with taking grandma to doctors or hospital appointments. She has a lot of falls and pains due to the Parkinson’s.

    Reply

  58. Liz,
    never ceases to amaze me here – I was writing the bit for Marti and included swearing for some unknown reason – I hit submit and read what I missed – lo and behold there is the swearing banter with Glenda and Liz. Love serendipity. Think that is the subliminal S to the SOB site:)

    Reply

  60. Tim, there is a setting called “Snap To” make sure it’s UNclicked.
    And you may want to set the setting for “Visability” to Hide Pointer while Typing.
    See if that helps.

    Reply

  64. Hi Liz and All,

    Late to the party, but here is my $.02

    Both the ideal workplace and ideal work are created first in our minds. Whether you are in the ideal workplace and whether you are doing ideal work, the first thing we should do is to THINK we are in the ideal workplace and we are doing ideal work. Only then can we give it our best shot for what we are doing at PRESENT.

    Here are a few more things to consider. An ideal work is one where:
    1. You are GROWING
    2. You have an ability to CONTRIBUTE to the world in a BIG way.
    3. You are in a FLOW
    4. You wake up in the morning WANTING to engage in your craft
    5. What you are doing is MEANINGFUL

    and lastly,

    6. If you stop engaging in your craft, you create a big VOID.

    Have a great evening all of you.

    Best,
    Raj

    Reply

  76. Tim, I think I know what you are talking about now, it’s not a mouse problem, it is something to do with the position within the active typing field.
    Not sure of what causes it, but move the “arrow” “curser” OUT of the active field when you are typing.
    THAT should Help!

    Reply

  77. I’m getting frustrated with Facebook. People keep asking me to join a group or some kind of thing that requires adding an application, so I try and it tells me that Facebook is having “issues” and to please try again.

    Facebook is NOT my favorite place to work (or try to do anything)

    Reply

  79. Marti, I’m not too sure FaceBook is the best place to try anything new, especially with their ne TOS.
    I stopped using them long ago because I didn’t like the TOS then, NOW it seems they OWN ALL your stuff.
    Just my $.02 but I want to own what I write, no matter How Bad it is! 😉

    Reply

  83. I’m thinking of working with “Smashwords”. They are a new site that lets you upload a manuscript and they convert it to all sorts of digital (e-book) media, then they sell it for you on their site. The author keeps 85% of the sale. God bless Chris Brogan, he mentioned me to the fella who runs it at a conference they were both at, and the guy (Mark Coker – he’s on Twitter under that name) contacted me to try their service. Only problem is to format for them you have to strip out all kinds of Microsoft Word embedded stuff and (as previously noted) I’m no whiz at technology. They have a very detailed guide on how to do it though. Now I just need time.

    Reply

  85. I have made my favorite place to work. I don’t always get around well and so I have a great set up on the living room couch. My front yard is park like and tall cedar trees obscure the house from the street. I have a huge picture window that looks out to a birch tree. There are lots of bird feeders and a bird bath in the tree and I have a 3-season garden planted at the base. There is a hummingbird feeder at the corner of the porch, directly in my line of sight.
    That cat has her spot on the back of the couch so she can supervise me and the birds. The dogs have their dog bed under the huge coffee table by my side. The coffee table was an old futon frame and it is high enough to be out of the range of wagging dog tails. It is at elbow height when I am sitting so I can reach over for a beverage, the phone or a note pad.
    On the couch I have pillows to elevate my legs and a soft warm down comforter if I get cold.

    Sure I wouldn’t mind a beach view but I have worked really hard to maximize what I do have. It is a 1,000 times better than when I was relegated to a cubicle under fluorescent lights!

    Reply

  86. Yes Liz, I knew that, but NOW even if you leave, they own anything you already have online on their service.
    Before, when I stopped using them, when you deleted your account, everything disappeared with you.

    Reply

  87. Bean, that sounds nice. I work in bed most of the time. I need some of those trees of yours. 🙂

    Liz, you are coming with me to the island – k?

    Reply

  90. Yes, I heard all the stuff about Facebook. Someone asked me to add an application called “My Girls” that supposedly notifies your friends about your birthday and status updates. I don’t add a lot of Facebook stuff but an old friend (from high school!) just added me as a friend at Facebook then she added the “My Girls” thingy and asked me to add myself to her list. Since she is new I didn’t want to hurt her feelings and decline, but I think I may just e-mail her and let her know about this latest stink with Facebook.

    Thank you all for mentioning the problems with Facebook. Anyone think they’ll back down on the “we own you even if you leave” business?

    Reply

  93. @Amy I can’t claim credit on the trees but I sure enjoy them. They are very old trees, they were mature when they started building the houses here in the post WW@2 housing boom. They called the area Cedar Park in the 1940s due to the towering cedar trees here.
    It means I get very good at shade gardening in the front yard!

    Reply

  97. @liz it is the trees and the birds for me. I have several flocks a day and there is something about all that flurry of activity amongst something so strong and stable that gives me balance from becoming too static or too flighty

    Reply

  98. Bean, I live on 10 acres that is heavily wooded (just east of Kansas City, MO) and I love seeing and hearing the birds. The magical songs of nature.

    Reply

  115. Yeah Glenda, No Pressure. From You, and Amy, and Marti, and Liz and all te other people who actually read the “poems” at the end of OCN.
    No Pressure. :-}

    Reply

  119. LIZ, thanks for tonight. Need to finish this presentation for Saturday’s AccessCamp San Antonio. I am doing an acrostic for accessibility – didn’t realize the word had so many f’n letters. Sleep is optional, right?

    Reply

  122. One thing that we have in common
    Is we want to work in our comfort zone

    Sitting on a beach on an island
    Or under a tree in the backyard of our home

    We want all of our stuff to work
    With no problems with programs or rodents

    All things being equal we don’t need all the extra components

    Because where ever we happen to be working

    It’s our style, our feelings that need not a bit of stoking

    And if you ever need a break
    From the paradise that you have made

    Come to Liz’s house on Tuesday night
    For some Klondikes and Chocolate and Lemonade.

    Burma Shave

    Nite Liz
    Nite All

    Reply

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