Successful Blog

Getting in the Groove

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Beach Notes by Guest Writer Suzie Cheel

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Getting in the Groove

Walking on the beach yesterday I thought what will I write for Beach Notes this week. I then remembered I mentioned before I went to Vancouver that I was going to write about Getting In the Groove. This is probably very timely as since I went to Vancouver I have got out of the blogging groove.

I thought I would just whip up a post a day while I was away, I know I mentioned to Liz I would do photo posting.

I started well for first 3 days and then when I got into the course there was so much going on and to do, plus homework that blogging did not happen. When I returned my body, and my ego I think decided to slow me down. I did try to figure out what was going on and then succumbed to slowing down. It has been a time to integrate the knowledge I have acquired, work out my new business plan and develop a workable fun blogging plan.

The words from song Tub Thumping performed by Chumbawamba came to mind

I get knocked down, but I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down

(Note: the YouTube is audio plus photo only)


That was how I felt yesterday, it was time to get up and move forward. This is a good song to dance to. Dancing and singing raise my vibes and get the creative juices flowing as well as being one way I get into the groove.

Today I am planning out my blog posts for the week for both The Abundance Highway and my Art Blog. My plan is to spend the first 2 hours before I go beach walking blog posting, so I take the pressure off getting a daily post done. I want to start doing 2 posts a day to Abundance Highway and develop some rhythm to my blog. A bit like Liz has here.

What’s one thing do you do to get into the groove?

Thanks to Week 139 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 to me. Thie award carries a “Liz said so” guarantee, is endorsed by Kings of the Hemispheres, Martin and Michael, and is 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– A-Z Directory . Click the link or visit the What IS an SOB?! page in the sidebar.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Three Dads, Three Social Networks, and Quality Time

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Three Dads I Admire

Dad

When I talk about my dad, people often assume that we must have been inseparable. Actually, we only got short bursts of time together. My dad had two families — one at home and the folks who came to his saloon.

When Jason Falls. talks about his barely two-month old daughter, I think, “Yeah, she’s going to look up to him like I look up to my dad.” Then my brain immediately connects to a photo of a young Brogan girl. I’m fairly certain she’s sure that the sun rises over her dad. I’m lucky to know two more guys who, like my dad, seem to have two families — one at home and one related to the computer screen.

Three dads, three daughters, three families at home, and three huge social / professional networks to tend.

Bet it’s not just their daughters who have felt the value of quality time.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Image: lizstrauss

SOB Business Cafe 06-20-08

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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

I’ll Do It Myself Blog lays out some staggering marketing missed opportunities.
This under tapped market has $175 billion in discretionary spending power. That figure is more than twice the spending power of American teenagers and almost 18 times the spending power of the American “tweens” market.

Remarkablogger lays out the real strengths of the blogging platform.
The blog format is extraordinarily flexible. It can adapt itself into all kinds of uses. This flexibility is applicable to business blogs in a variety of ways–especially if your audience isn’t even sure what a blog is.

Social Media Explorer lays out a problem with the vocabulary of social networking.
This Google Blog Search result of a Friend Feed post of mine, which incidentally had nothing to do with Robert, but was a question I posed on the Social Media Club’s Friend Feed room, seems to indicate, however, that I am Robert’s friend.

Confident Writing lays out another set of questions in a great series.
You need to pay as much (if not more) attention to the framework for your question as you do the question itself.

Here are 7 things to think about before you add your questions to the bottom of the page . . .

Christine Kane lays out some learning from a unexpected source.
Let’s hearken back to the early days of email.

You dial up. You listen to the squeaky scratchy noises. You wait for the AOL man to say “Welcome!” You wait to see if he’s finished his greeting, or if he’s simply pausing before telling you the exciting news: “You’ve got mail!”

Related ala carte selections include

It’s NOT about Your Stuff has great news!

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like. No tips required. Comments appreciated.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Social Networking in Another Culture that Speaks a New Language

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Ask Someone

The Living Web

Most folks find meeting new people and learning new situation stressful in some way. Yet, to keep moving forward, we have to be the “new kid who doesn’t know anything.”

And it’s not always timely or convenient. Just as we seem to know everyone, we turn a corner — online or offline — that takes us where it seems like we’re social networking in another culture that speaks a new language.

Are you like me? I become the proverbial “lurker.”

I find meeting new people in groups overwhelming. I stand on the sidelines hoping that folks’ll meet me instead. I take up observing rather than taking part. Observation is a start, but it’s not a great place to settle in. If everyone is doing the same thing, the middle of the “room” can be awfully empty.

I know better. I know situations are easier when I ask someone how things work.

If only I could remember that I don’t need to learn EVERYTHING by doing it wrong first.

Where do we find that networked, traveling, bilingual, cultural expert to help us hit the ground running on whatever new terrain we’re embarking? He’s everywhere. So is she.

The world is filled with smart people who answer questions. The trick is not to make the situation overwhelming and to learn little bits not tackling huge things. If we only ask each person one question, we can get a little education with out stressing any one of them. We’ll also get lots of tricks, techniques, and points of view to help us through the new situation. In no time we’ll be socially adept, culturally comfortable, and fluent in the new language, and someone will be asking us the questions we now have.

Whatever it is you’re trying to learn or conquer, don’t just watch. Wonder. T
Then ask a question.

Will you learn something small this weekend?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
The first eBook is coming . . .

Part 2: More Time with Matt Rissell of TSheets

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A SERIES in the quest to know more about the offline world

Part 2 in a 4-Part Interview with Matt Rissell

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Yesterday, I started a conversation with Matt Rissell, CEO of TSheets to find out more about his business that serves folks who work offline, mobile, and on the web. When we ended Matt and I exchanged two questions.

Matt said: Would you be interested in knowing how TSheets can track time from a cell phone?

I answered: Sure, how do you do it and why would I want to?

Liz, fasten your seatbelt and keep arms and legs inside at all times and prepare yourself, because I’m about to change your life. The how: we are the first company in history to create a voice activated time tracking software. For example, you can simply dial a phone number and say, “Hi TSheets, clock me under job code “Bridge Project” and add notes – I’m meeting with the owner to discuss design plans.” At that moment, you are “clocked in” under a job code and notes have been attached to that timesheet. You can also clock in/out from the iPhone Web app., or regular mobile Web app. too.

The “why” is blatantly sexy! You see, tracking time isn’t sexy, that is, until you can turn your time into money. Now, Attorneys, Freelance Consultants, Web Designers, Realtors etc… can accurately track the time that they invest into clients and projects. And now they don’t have to try and remember what they did or talked about, as it can all be captured right there on their timesheet.

Hmmm. I like turning time into money. Most folks do.
Thanks, Matt! More next week about mobile time.

What do YOU think. Would track your time on your cell phone?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
Blogging well takes less time. Buy the ebook and find out the secret.

Related:
Part 1: A Timely Interview with Matt Rissell of TSheets
Part 2: More Time with Matt Rissell of TSheets
Part 3: Time Out with Matt Rissell of TSheets
Part 4: The Last Time with Matt Rissell of TSheets