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Week of Valentines: Mother Teresa and Dr. Kent M. Keith

February 12, 2007 by Liz

Do Good Anyway

This version, often called “Do Good” or “Do Good Anyway”, is found on the wall in the home for children that Mother Teresa established in Calcutta. The Original Version called “The Paradoxical Commandments,” was written by Dr. Kent M. Keith as part of a piece for student leaders.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa as taken from
The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith

Thanks, WheresJim, for the real story.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Bloggy Question 36: When She Started Serenading

February 11, 2007 by Liz

Bloggy Buddy Forever

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life hypothetical question. . . .

At a tech social two months ago, you talked to a woman, an independent contractor like yourself. She’s a person who you keep meeting at such events. You hadn’t spent much time with her, but this time you got to know her, what she does, and her business views.

She told you that she has clients in many cities, that she travels 6-12 days a month. You discussed how you both dislike hotel rooms, how isolating they are. She seemed vibrant, intelligent, and curious. You left the tech social thinking of her as extra help for your business when you need it.

She sent you a CD you had talked about as a thank you for the tech social conversation!

One month ago, you met her at Panera and spent a work session together. As a friend, you introduced her to blogging. You thought that blogging might help her business and give her something to do when she’s on the road.

Every day since, she has linked to every post you put up. People are talking about your new blogging buddy — especially after someone mentioned the roses your new friend sent you to thank you for teaching her blogging.

You seem to have. . . um . . . a ”needy” blogging buddy forever.

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Sandy’s Great Graphic Tips: Selecting File Types

February 11, 2007 by Liz

Which graphic file type is best? It depends . . .

A lot of people wonder what the difference is between file types. HereÃ¢â¬â¢s a quick description of three common types. To learn more, follow the links for examples and detailed explanations.

.jpg or .jpeg = Joint Photographers Experts Group

Superior for photographs, computer game screenshots, blends or gradients (including metallics)
Allows compression options (removes information to make the file smaller)
Can be used as an image map (single image with clickable areas)
Does not support transparency
Supports millions of colors

.gif = Graphics Interchange Format

Superior for simple shapes, line art, diagrams, or flat colors (think cartoons, icons, logos, buttons)
Supports animation
Supported by most browsers
Allows transparent backgrounds (for round or irregular shapes)
Can be used as an image map
Supports 256 colors maximum

.png = Portable Network Graphics

Designed to improve/replace .gif file but does not support animation
Supports transparency
Preserves sharp edges
Not all browsers support it but it’s gaining in popularity
Supports RGB or greyscale (does not support CMYK for print)

How do you know if you have the right file format?

If itÃ¢â¬â¢s too grainy, too fuzzy, or the file size is too large, you might want to review the descriptions above or check out Pat Kalbaugh’s GIF vs JPG page at The Sirius Web. Experiment a little – save it as a different file type and see what happens.

See you next time!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

Why DO I Blog . . . ? Uh-oh! The Deep, Meaningful Answer

February 11, 2007 by Liz

When a close friend, Chris Cree, asks me a question, like the one at the end of this post, “Why do you blog?” I have to figure out whether to respond with my default response –a deep meaningful answer.

Some questions — “What are you doing?” — don’t ask for philosophy. I find I keep more friends, and they are happier, if I sort which questions want a deep, meaningful answer and which call for information. (Hey, in the end, you can walk away, but I’m stuck listening to me rattle like an old three-wheel bicycle.)

Gosh, . . . I might have already said more than you needed to know.

[Sorry]

Why do I blog? was the question.

I have three blogs of my own and two others that I blog on regularly. I did two interviews this weekend. Why do I blog? The answer to that has grown, but the reasons haven’t changed.

Chris, you asked for five reasons. When I look out at my blogs these are the ones I see.

I blog because I said I would. When I wrote my first blog post, I made a commitment to myself to write every day. With the next blog, and the blog after, I made more commitments to myself and to anyone who reads what I write. Keeping my word is important to me.
I blog because people need a friend. For years I gave away copies of two journal-like books by one writer. I gave them to folks I knew who needed to know they had a friend. Then those books went out of print. I wanted to make a blog that would offer a place where anyone could go to find a best friend at any hour of the day. I think people deserve a safe place.
I blog because I am an entrepreneur in the 21st century. Blogging is one strategy of my business. Blogging gives my service business substance and a voice. I know that any business supported solely by print and word-of-mouth relationships is isolated and insecure. Blogging directly and indirectly supports my family. It is my credibilitiy across more than 2000 blog posts.
I blog because I value the wealth of the blogosphere. The people, the relationships, the generosity of spirit, the joy of discovery, the learning and laughter, the humanity I experience are what bring me back day after day. Who with curiosity could be bored? We’ve set the bar with words I strive to live — authenticity, transparency, trust, respect, acceptance.
I blog because I believe words can change the world. How could I walk away? Blogging is not an addiction. It’s a heady way of communicating, a meeting place for ideas where they become visible — more visible than the people who have them. I cannot turn my back on the possibility of being useful.

Nothing in my life could have prepared me to be a blogger, except everything in my life.

Now I wonder, you are each unique, Lisa, Brian, David, Tony, Chris . . . Why do you blog?

So Wendy Piersall and I Want to Know . . .

February 10, 2007 by Liz

Is Anyone Out There Up For A

Local Chicagoland Bloggers Meetup?

Well, is there?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Thanks to Week 68 SOBs

February 10, 2007 by Liz

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.

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 badge’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.

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. Click the link or visit the What IS an SOB?! page in the sidebar.

–ME “Liz” Strauss