Successful Blog

The Currency: Talent

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A Successful Birthday Post

from Karin H.

Liz asked: “sent something about a successful and outstanding thing that happened in YOUR life.”

talents

There is a well-known biblical parable about Talents (an old currency), which still is true. (I’m sure you know the story, otherwise, read it here)

The one servant who didn’t use his talent angered his master. Moral of the story – in the most simplest way: if you have a talent you have to put it to good use.

But in order to do just that you have to know, realise, recognise what your talents, strengths are. And that’s the most outstanding single fact that happened to me this year.

Beginning this year, through a publication of the Gallup Organisation, recommended to me by Kent Blumberg in a mind-blowing way I recognised those characteristic of myself others had already discovered as my strengths. Mind-blowing in a way that I first didn’t believe the results of the test.

Learner – Input – Maximiser – Intellection – Connectedness

the talents/strengths I have to put to good use to the best of my ability.

What’s funny though is as soon as you realise and recognise those unique personal traits everything seems to shift into place.

You suddenly realise why those tasks/jobs where you can work to your ‘strengths’ are the ones you can never get enough of, those are the ones that almost always seem to give the best result, the most success. You feel, become more complete as if everything fits together – at least that’s my experience.

But there is more. Relationships start to shift too, for the better. Specially with those persons who had long before you even had the slightest inkling realised and recognised your talents and strengths. They almost let out a ‘sigh of relieve’ – finally!

As soon as you realise and recognise that what they had already noticed, the relationship changes. It becomes a two-way-traffic of unconditional trust and belief. Traffic in combined efforts, supplementary talents where 1 + 1 makes 5. Isn’t that a great ‘return of investment’ on the currency Talent?

Kiss Biss Crew

The best examples I can give are the (increasing amounts of) projects I’m working on/for together with those very special persons.

And my circle of special persons is growing.

Sometimes the more I ponder about it and the more I reap and share the fruits of it, the more mystical it feels.

I’m fine with that.
Mystical has its own place between heaven and earth.

Karin H. (keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

Start Stop
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Thank you, Karin!
Liz's Signature
birthday balloon The party is Oct. 24th! Come for the surprises! Bring a link to your success!!!

Don't Seek Success!

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Thoughts on a Successful-Blog Birthday

from Michael A. Stelzner

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Liz;

Happy 2! Hard to believe that your blog is so young!

My thoughts:

birthday balloonDon’t seek success
It should not be a goal in life
It is hard to achieve
You never really think you’re there

Rather, you should aim for achievable goals
Set your sights high
But celebrate when you reach mile markers along the way

Let others label you “successful”
But always aim to improve
Never accept “good enough”
Give back to those who helped
And lastly, be thankful

Happy second again Liz!

Mike
Michael Stelzner’s – Blog – Writing White Papers
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Thank you, Mike!
Liz's Signature
birthday balloon The party is Oct. 24th! Come for the surprises! Bring a link to your success!!!

Time and Dots

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Connecting dots with The Idea Dude

Connecting Dots logo

This week marks the 2nd birthday of Successful Blog. So this post is about one very special dot, Liz. You can always tell if something is said from heart, like a fundamental truth, it usually stands the test of time. So I went on a time travel. Two years ago as she took over successful-blog, Liz asked, What do you think I should know about you? It was her way of making space for a conversation. Today, the tagline may have changed a little, You’re only a stranger once, but the fundamental nature of Liz remains the same… her perpetual curiosity about the world and all of us who live within it.

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It’s no wonder, one of her all-time favorite posts would be her invitation to all of us to please take the keys. Ask her why?because the conversation in the comments is a naked education in blogging and the beauty of community. In her own inimitable way, Liz has forever changed the way we blog and the way we read and interact with blogs.

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Pam tells us it’s important to celebrate, just take some time to celebrate you and all the wonderful things you bring to the table. Oh, and the nice thing, celebrating does not have to cost money, it does not have to take up too much time…. I think Liz would view this celebration as a celebration not of just Liz, nor just you, nor just me but of US. We should all celebrate successful-blog because we all helped define it in some small way. We were all part of the conversation and continue to be.

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Gidge received the most beautiful birthday note ever. It said I just can’t wait to see what you are going to look like tomorrow, next week, next year, in 50 years. But I’m pretty sure I already know. I can’t wait to see what this blog will look like tomorrow, next week and next year. I’d bet the farm that many of you feel the same way too.

Gidge also shared a wonderful quote from a silly ole bear

If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you – Winnie the Pooh

May the dots be with you!

Vern, The Idea Dude

Change the World: Find Forgiveness

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The Past Is Gone

changetheworld8

WE charge in . . .

We come into life screaming for air and, we fight to prove we belong here. Along the way, little and sometimes big hurts happen. Some were intentional. Some were accidental. Probably a number were entirely in our imagination. Yet, our need to stay meaningful almost leads us to find something meant to belittle where something else entirely might have been going on.

. . . armed with protection . . .

We go to the negative as a defense. A grandmother doesn’t to speak to a fully grown son. Her anger is about times before he was born. We lay the deeds of a villain who escaped at the door of a hero who stayed. The first wife lied. . . . The last boss was a fraud. . . . Deep inside we’re not just protecting, we’re waiting for the bad guys to return with the answer to Why?

. . . unconsciously waiting . . . deaf and unseeing.

And that unconscious waiting is a sort of self-harm.

What if we changed our ways? What if we changed how we see who we are?

from Find Forgiveness by Tommy Henriksen, Selected Songs For A New Beginning

. . .
Can you look into my eyes and tell me why?

Find forgiveness. The past is gone today.
Are you willing to learn and change?
I see myself changing all my ways.

Forgiveness

And the tears that fell are from you
Waters from my soul

Can you look into your eyes and tell yourself why?

Find forgiveness. The past is gone today.
Are you willing to learn and change?
Can you see yourself changing all your ways?

Forgiveness

I was wrong in your eyes.
You know God and I see.

Can we give it one last chance . . . for all of us?
. . .

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

Thanks to Week 104 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 directly to me. This award comes with a full “Liz said so” guarantee. It is endorsed by Kings of the Hemispheres, Martin and Michael, and 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

A Birthday Party Picture Invitation

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Happy Successful-Blog Birthday!

from Joanna Young

Sometimes I’m good with words. Sometimes words fail me at the times it matters most.

This is one of those times.

So I thought I’d give myself a break and send a picture instead.
It’s a picture of a party venue. Not just any old party venue, but the perfect place to hold a party for a universe of successful, outstanding bloggers. Correction – not the perfect place. The only place.

The only saloon in town.

Do you recognise it?

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I know, I know, there’s no-one there yet. The room is quietly, calmly, empty. But you can sense the atmosphere – of excitement, expectation, readiness, anticipation – just by popping your head round the door. Go on. Take a peek.

Can you feel it?

That’s right. It’s as if the room is waiting – just for you.

Joanna Young
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Thank you, Joanna!
Liz's Signature
birthday balloon The party is Oct. 24th! Come for the surprises! Bring a link to your success!!!