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SOBCon07: Free Food! Free Stuff! Great Entertainment! Enlightening Speakers! And What About That Terry Starbucker Guy?

March 21, 2007 by SOBCon Authors

Hello again everyone, Terry Starbucker here from Ramblings From a Glass Half Full

As you can see by looking on the right hand side of this page that I’m one of the speakers at SOBCon07 (register now!).

Actually, while I am going to speak at this event, my role is going to be different than the other fellow bloggers who will be on the podium.

You see, the only reason I ended up on that list is because I really wanted this event to happen, and was more than willing to offer my help to make it a reality. It was on one of Liz Strauss’ Open Comment Nights where I had the audacity to suggest that we try to get her Successful and Outstanding Bloggers (SOBs, as she calls them) together in Chicago.

I had so much fun corresponding via comments on a blog (and if you haven’t done this on Tuesday nights, you really should – it’s a blast) that I really wanted to meet these people – they all seemed so nice, so authentic, and pretty darn funny.

As it would happen, Liz had been thinking about this already – she wanted to do more than just have a nice party. She wanted to take this to a whole other level – where relationships could be deepened, blogging skills can be expanded, and our known world could be significantly expanded. She wanted to make it something special, in a way that only she (and other wonderful friends of Liz ) could.

How could I resist that? So I signed on, and on May 12 I will having the honor of introducing the other folks on the right side of the page.

Who is Terry Starbucker? Just a fledgling blogger from Connecticut, in his late 40’s and working full time in the service business world (and doing a lot of traveling to the Rocky Mountain West). I really enjoy blogging, and I’ve grown to cherish the relationships I have forged through it.

I like to look at life as a glass that’s half full, not half empty – in my blog I call it “looking at the literal world in a favorable way“. I also have wrapped “Half-Fullism” into a belief statement, inspired by Crash Davis in the movie Bull Durham.

As is my habit sometimes (I like to write lyrics and sing on occasion), I wrote a poem on my recent first blogiversary that I think sums me (and my blogging) up nicely:

It was one year ago today
I found a place where I had something to say
Talkin’ about the daily grind
And those amazing ties that bind

Connecting through the written word
Soaring with prose like a high-flying bird
Keepin’ it positive in a humorous way
Finding moments that matter in every day

So I celebrate blogging, one year on
A labor of love that I chanced upon
And now I’m committed, and that ain’t no bull
To keep up with those Ramblings
From a Glass that’s Half Full

That’s why I’m going to Chicago – because I’m committed to find more of those “moments that matter“, and I know at SOBCon I will find them in abundance. I am willing to go to the top of any mountain and yell (or more likely sing) at the top of my lungs “Attention all bloggers: This is one special event you will not want to miss – it will be something you will remember for the rest of your lives!”

Register now!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: bc

The Mic Is On: We’re Finding Our Dreams in Business and in Life. . .

March 20, 2007 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.

We’re Talking About How to Find and Follow Our Dreams in Business and in Life. . . with Guest Host Tariq Khan from The Kitchen Table

We might talk about

  • finding our bliss
  • finding funds to do what we want
  • how to set a plan
  • how to get there
  • how to be what we see
Hiker on top of mountain

And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey.

Oh, and bring a link, if you have one to share.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Filed Under: Blog Comments, Community, Links, Marketing /Sales / Social Media, Outside the Box, SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog_promotion, discussion, letting_off_steam, living-social-media, Open_Comment_Night

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: Making Our Dreams Come True with Guest Host Tariq Khan

March 20, 2007 by Liz

Yes the Mic Will Be on Tonight

Join Us Tonight for Tues. Open Comments

Our Guest Host is Tariq Khan from The Kitchen Table: How to Find and Follow Our Dream in Business and in Life

Let’s talk and ask questions about finding our bliss, finding funds to do what we wish, how to set a plan, how to get there, how to be what we see, and whatever else comes up.

Choose your mountain and climb it! Choose your dream and make it happen!

Oh, and bring a link to share, if you have one.

The rules are simple — be nice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Filed Under: Blog Comments, Community, Links, Marketing /Sales / Social Media, Outside the Box, SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog_promotion, discussion, letting_off_steam, living-social-media, Open_Comment_Night

Business Rule 9: What’s the Value of Money?

March 20, 2007 by Liz

Scheduled Pay Raises?

Business Rules Logo

Suzannah of the Square Periods — you know the editor, who didn’t play the banjo but should have — was one of three editors who had started work on the same day. I started work as their Executive Editor a few months after. Sheila and Kris had been teachers. Suzannah’s husband was a teacher still.

What all three editors knew about pay raises looked like the scheduled increases of teacher salaries.

That, unfortunately, turned out to be a problem.

When the time came for their first-year performance appraisals, I met with each of them individually. We went through the process of how the self-appraisal part worked, what I would do after that, and what we would talk about together.

Sheila, the star of the three, was already being considered for the next promotion. In the meeting with Sheila something unusual came up. She might have been looking to short-circuit what she didn’t want to happen.

Only Fair or Is It?

Sheila told me about an agreement the three editors had made.

“The three of us are having lunch to celebrate our first anniversary.” Sheila mentioned that they had agreed to reveal the amount of their salary increases. She said they wanted to be sure everyone was treated fairly.

“Oooh. That’s not a good idea.” I said. “I don’t think you want everyone to make the same.”

“Why’s that?” she asked. Remember that teachers don’t go to business school. They think in terms of grades and whole class rules. We spoke about company no tell policy, but I was focused on getting her personal investment in not wanting to share. Understanding that the no tell policy is a support and a protection is important.

“Imagine I hire a guy named Frank with a resume just like yours on the very same day as I hire you. One year later, you’ve done great work. You have managed three projects on your own. Whereas Frank has been confused at every turn and managed to screw up two projects so badly, they will miss their release dates by months. Same raises for both of you?”

“No.”

Sheila had just figured it out.

Money is paid for what the work is worth — and for management of that work in the company’s interest.

The more I wake up in the middle of the night, the more I have to think about the goals of the company, the more I’m responsible for the work of others, the more money I should make. Money = stress, execution, productivity, responsibility. End of story.

I then had the same conversation with the other two. The lunch happened. The salary revealing discussion did not.

Business Rule 9 may sound simplistic, if you already know it.

It’s key to ANY negotiation. When I learned it, suddenly I knew I understood how to buy a new car and how to purchase a house. The mysteries of talking money started to demystify before me. The value of money isn’t just important at work.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
Business Rule 8: What Are Your Square Periods?
Business Rule 7: Sound Bytes, Stories, and Analogies
Business Rule 6: Who Dropped the Paddle?
Business Rule 5: Never Underestimate the Power of a Voice on the Telephone

Filed Under: Business Book, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, Business-Rules, communication, Perfect Virtual Manager, Rules-They-Dont-Teach-in-Business-School

At SOBCon 07: The Next Level Quest

March 20, 2007 by Liz

Relationshiping Blogging Doesn’t Work without Content

I have conversations with bloggers every day. We swap strategies and learn from each other. Yesterday I had more than one. The first conversation was with Lisa Gates. She wanted to know more about the SOBCon content. So I thought I’d bring some of it from the SOBCon 07 blog over.

What Does It Mean to Take Your Blogging to the Next Level?

It means engaging your potential, reaching for the vision and executing what you see. At SOBCon, we’re going all out to make this event insightful, content-rich, inspiring, practical, and fun!

The SOBCon Next Level Quest

Together we will strategize, discuss, and learn how to

  • Respect that in business and blogging all things are based in connecting relationships
  • Treat our blogs like a business, or a business-like hobby
  • Define a vision for our blogs that inspires readers to be part of it
  • Identify like-minded bloggers whose blogging goals match our own to swap strategies with
  • Evaluate our blogs through the eyes of a first-time reader
  • Use links, trackbacks, comments, design archietecture to lead to increased participation, and extended reach that could develop into business ventures
  • Ensure presentation, navigation and all reader experiences are intuitive, simple and elegant
  • Know our brand values as readers define them and be able to participate in how readers perceive the unique and remarkable values we offer
  • Understand basic tools that are useful for video, podcasting, social media, and voice commenting
  • Reach out beyond the blogosphere to non-blogging readers to become a resource they rely on
  • Recognize the traits and characteristics of a successful and outstanding blog by doing blog critiques

Presenters with specialized expertise will get the conversation started, and presenters and attendees will work together to get move our blogs higher — to decide what is the next level for our individual blogs and plan how to get there!

Are you ready to take your blog to a new level?

What else could we pack into this quest?

Liz's Signature

PS Are you going to try to persuade me?

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, SOBcon-07, sobevent.com

Speaker Highlight: David Armano

March 20, 2007 by SOBCon Authors

David Armano

David has over 14 years experience in the creative field with the majority of his time spent in interactive marketing and digital experience design. An active thought leader in the industry, David blogs at Logic + Emotion which has taken the marketing, design, and advertising communities by storm. David’s blog has been covered by Forrester, The Boston Globe and landed in BusinessWeek’s “Best of 2006”. More importantly Logic + Emotion remains one of the blogging worlds most compelling success stories—combining healthy Technorati and Alexa statistics with an even healthier community of smart and passionate people who join the daily conversation on “L+E”.

Prior to his current role at Digitas, David was a Senior Creative Director with Agency.com where he led multiple initiatives for clients such as HP, Grainger, Con Agra foods, Bally Total Fitness and Abbott Laboratories. Previously, David earned his interactive stripes working with The Chicago Tribune on their site initiatives. David helped launch and upgrade site features, functionality and content for the Tribune’s flagship site. David also accumulated broadcast and direct marketing knowledge while working for companies such as Fox and Columbia House. David graduated magna cum laude with a degree in design (computer graphics) from the reputable Pratt Institute.

The Presentation

Designing Conversations: How “Conversation Architecture” can result in an effective, differentiated blog experience.

David, will combine his strengths in visual communications and experience design to show you how you can tap these techniques to help differentiate your blog and build a better experience for your community.

  • The myth and reality of design and what it means to blogging
  • How “conversation architecture” can strengthen your community
  • How design effects our “personal brands” and can help you find your “voice”
  • How visuals can enhance our conversations and spark meaningful dialogue
  • How to upgrade your blog experience without alienating your community
  • How you can get noticed by mainstream media and other influencers

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: bc

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