How do we get done all we need to get done?

If someone has a definitive answer to this question - PLEASE post it here!

I’m serious!  Although women are known to be expert multi-taskers, there are still days when the overwhelming need to do more than any human can reasonably do gets in the way of getting it done.

You guessed it!  I’m traveling today, so finding the time to have a little chat here has been pressing me since early a.m.  Yes, I could have gotten up an hour earlier.  Yes, I could have not spent so much time downstairs with coffee and quiet thought time.  Yes, I could have not read several favorite blogs before rushing to bathe, wash hair, get dressed, do makeup - etc, etc. 

But that would have taken me out of or away from my usual necessary (and essential) quiet reflection time that I absolutely need to get through the day.

Since we are in the first month of the new year, we can still strategize, make and rework our ‘08 game plan and resolve to keep the resolutions we made.  That is where I am today and where the conversation headed while enjoying lunch with a favorite Christian woman friend as we worked through exciting opportunities we will share in the coming months.

We both concluded that having multiple balls in the air (metaphor for involvement in tons of activities and projects) is not what is intended for us this year - or any year in the future.  It simply keeps us from doing what we’re meant to do - passionate about.

I’m a person who has loved having at least 10 spinning plates in the air at one time.  Somehow it said something about me personally that I needed to believe.  That being actively involved in a number of great activities meant I was important or successful!  After all, look at what I’m doing and how well I do it.

Has that been true for you?  Has there been a time in your busy lives that being over-extended was a sign of importance or esteem.  As women, I think we come by this naturally, especially if we’ve spent some years managing a home and family.   This is particularly true if we’ve grown up in an environment where we were ’stroked’ by how much we did and how well we did it.

Well, this year, I have resolved it will be different.  I have been ‘called’ to work out the vision and mission of A Women’s Place and now the companion piece, Affiliated Women in the MarketPlace!  That’s the God-given plan.  It includes opportunities to speak with women individually, as well as in large groups.  It holds the promise of radio and maybe TV (who knows).  It fulfills the purpose for which He made me and answers the passion I have to see women come into their own!

Sometime ago, I wrote an article which got considerable play across the web.  Entitled “We Are Women - Hear Us Roar!”, it spoke to the power women have when we come together, to build each other’s lives and make significant differences in the lives of those around us - as well as those across the world.

How easy it is to get caught up in the many great opportunities that come our way!  Wow, we think - that’s got to be part of the vision - the mission - the purpose.  In reality, it may be simply a distraction that looks like the ‘real thing’.  It takes real discernment to determine if it’s for me - for real - or meant to simply distract me from the joy of the task at hand.

It’s still early!  We still have time to ‘clean the closet’ and ‘throw away’ what doesn’t fit in our purpose-plan and distracts us from the best.  That’s it.  There’s the “good”, the “better” and the “best”.  We can settle for much that takes our attention that’s “good” - to the exclusion of the “best”.  And the same is true of the “better”.  My thought is that if I can’t find a ‘fit’ for what I’ve taken on or being asked to do, it probably falls short of “best”.

I’m clearing my work life of anything and everything that doesn’t fit into the purposeful plan that I know He has for me to do.  It may take me a little while to figure out what belongs and what doesn’t.  Once I know, I’ve resolved to say firmly and politely - “Thank you, but no thank you!”

My purpose for sharing in this direction for the day is partly because I had to figure out how to get this conversation in before the end of the day.  And partly because it was much of the focus on my conversation today with friend Pam.

Mainly I went in this direction because I hear it over and over again - how busy we all are.  Busy with things that may or may not directly (or even indirectly) benefit our business or professional life.  Not that everything we do should be about “us”; but if there’s not some ‘pay-off’, then why expend the time and energy.

So as I wait for my quicky meeting with another delightful AWP member on the eastside of Indy; I’m working away in the pleasant surroundings of a Panera (free high-speed internet access!).  Sharing my personal conviction about over-achieving and over-extending helps me form a stronger conviction that I won’t let good distractions get in the way in ‘08 or ‘09 or at anytime in the future.

Life is too short to take on all the great opportunities that come our way.  Some are for us, some are for others, and some are just meant to be “thanks, but no thanks”.

May each of us gain the wisdom and discernment to recognize the difference!

Have an awesome day with much love and rich blessings!

Linda

I could go on a rant today!

What set me off?  It’s that time of year - that’s what set me off.  A new year holds so much promise, excitement and enthusiasm as we’ve been talking about here. Then comes the annual journey with the dreaded IRS!

Yes, dear friends, it’s time to gather the receipts, bank statements and all the paper that’s needed to file our individual and corporate returns.

I hate it!  It takes time that many of us don’t have and the cost of hiring someone to do this is often a burden for those of us who are just starting a business or for whom life changes over the past year have made the filing of income tax returns a nightmare.

One of the greatest challenges we face as we move from home back into the market place or from corporate America to our own business is the challenge of meeting the mundane that life throws at us.  By “mundane” I mean personal & business accounting.

And if that weren’t enough to cause an ulcer - there’s the challenge of doing what an assistant would do if we could afford to hire such a person.  This dilemna is one of the primary reasons small businesses fail to thrive and survive beyond the critical 2-year period.

I guess we would call it the working in the business rather than working on the business.  If we’ve planned strategically, we’ve allotted funds for such “in the business” expenses as keeping track of what is required when time comes to ”render unto Caesar”.

But that’s not always possible when we are just starting out.  Funds are needed for other things, so we end up wearing both the “CEO” hat as well as the “Executive Assistant” hat.  Whew, almost too much to think about without breaking a sweat!

So what’s the answer.  I wish I had the wisdom to know!  I’ve been in this position more times that I care to remember, and I still don’t have a realistic and practical answer.  But I’ll take a ’stab’ at it.

For one thing, we have an AWESOME AWP member who does things such as this.  Her name is BETH BULLOCK, and she is an entrepreneur ‘par-excellance’.  One of her many skills and abilities is working with Quick Books and I know she does bookeeping and payroll for several of our folks here - as well as many in the greater Cincy area (how’s that for a plug, Beth).  That’s one option!

By the way, Beth does VIRTUAL BOOKEEPING, which means that wherever you live, she can take care of your needs!

Another option is to connect with the SBA (Small Business Administration) through their Women’s Division (Bonnie Deer in the Cincinnati area).  And in the same geo-area, there is a small business incubator.

The two options above may be available in your area as well (the SBA and a small business incubator).  But if you are not that fortunate, look for someone who just wants to earn a few bucks, has computer skills and can quickly learn Quick Books or one of other accounting programs.  Make sure it’s someone you know and have a level of trust with.  Make them an offer they can’t resist.

Another creative option that just ‘popped’ into my brain is to put your teenage kids to work.  If you no longer have children in the home - co-opt your neighbors or best friends, nephews or nieces, etc.  Kids today are whiz’s with the computer.  Pay them a little to simply input your data.  Let them come to your home or office and use your computer.  That way, you can oversee what they do and make certain they don’t get into data you don’t want them to find.

It just occurred to me that the same option may be viable when we’re looking for someone to design a brochure or online marketing piece for us.  Some young folks are very skilled at doing web design and web development.  Let them try their hand at such tasks and chores while you work on your business.

As for the tax situation.  Personally, I prefer Fred Thompson’s flat tax and lowered corporate tax rates!  How simple can that be?  And “simple” is what we want - right?!  But until such a time as there is real tax reform, we’re stuck with what we’ve got and the first quarter and one month of the new year can become consumed with what is required by “Caesar”.

One resolution you might want to add to your goals and objectives stategy for ‘08 is to start NOW putting in the data that will be required this time next year.  If you don’t relish spending weekends inputting bland expenses and receipts - then try one of the suggestions above.

Now if only I would take my own advice, January would not be such a ‘horror story’.  I guess it’s the old adage “do as I say, not as I do!”

Enough of such anxious converation for Thursday Thoughts.   Let’s focus on the exciting creative thoughts that make traveling through the 2nd half of the journey the joy that it’s meant to be.

 With that, have an awesome day!  Stay tuned and stay connected with much love and rich blessings in life!

Linda

Couldn’t resist posting this delightful story just for Moms (young or chronologically mature).  Enjoy!

MOM TEST

I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up
something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.

‘Why?’ my daughter asked.

‘Because it’s been on the ground, you don’t know where it’s been, it’s dirty, and probably has germs,’ I replied.

At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, 

“Momma, how do you know all this stuff, you are so smart.”

I was thinking quickly. 

“All moms know this stuff. It’s on the Mom Test. You have to know it, or they don’t let you be a Mom.”

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was
evidently pondering this new information.

“OH…I get it!’ she beamed,  “So if you don’t pass the test you have to be the dad.”

“Exactly,” I replied back with a big smile on my face.

When you’re finished laughing, send this to a Mom.

Thanks, Willy for the chuckle!

 Linda

I’m excited!  There’s so much on a roll that I can hardly keep up.  For that reason it seems I start a conversation ‘thread’ here and then veer off on another path and rarely complete a whole thought.  That’s not good for you and causes me ‘heartburn’ realizing what I’ve not done.

While in Florida, I wrote some of the salient points on blogging, covering 4 of the 10 blogging commandments from Dan Zak, Washington Post.  Today, actually right now, I’m going to quickly cover the remaining 6 and encourage you to add blogging to your online resume and presence.

One of the reasons I think I digressed from the subject is that most of the rest of the ‘commandments’ are technical in nature.  I’m not technical by nature, although learning more about the webworld is awesome.

So here goes:  (1) embedding “widgets” or 3rd party items on your blog via HTML code helps drive traffic to your blog.  Learn enough about how to use RSS feeds & Google Reader.  Sign up for Technorati (www.technorati.com) or BlogRush (www.blogrush.com) - you’ll see “BlogRush” here very soon.  These tools come with widget codes that “spread links to your posts far and wide”.

(2) Rule of thumb - give 2 times more attention to posting on other blogs as you do writing on your own, says Janet Daly, of Washington who has blogged since August, 05 and turned five daily readers into 500.  Imagine increasing that much traffic to your business site!  Have something significant to say on a regular (daily is best) basis and once folks are ‘hooked’ on what you say, you’ve earned trust and they’ll keep coming back and become a customer and “customer evangelist”.

(3) It’s great when one of the “big boys” says something nice about your blog and provides a link to it.  By big boys, I mean the really popular online blogs, such as Wonkette.  When they do, your numbers could go sky high and sales might increase as well.

(4) Toot your own horn!  Nominate yourself for an award. There are a slew of big and small-time awards from national to niche contests.  National contests are voted on by the general public while “niche” events are smaller and usually voted on by other bloggers.  No matter - it’s the recognition you’re looking for and once you win an award; POST IT on your home page!

(5) Be Passionate about what you write!  And do it every day or folks will lose interest and you’ll lose a potential new market.  Be vivacious in your consistency which means - “post with verve”.  Find the arena in which you are the most comfortable and show yourself to be an or the  expert in that arena.  Be humorous, include links (as we sometimes do here) and recommend other blogs you like that fit the same ‘niche’ you do.

Finally, (6) Join blogging community sites, i.e., Indie Bloggers (www.indiebloggers.org).  In many locales now, there are informal blogger get-togethers.  There are online webinars that teach techniques that help bloggers be more successful.

Whee!  Got through them.  Seriously, if you haven’t taken to blogging  you must!  It doesn’t have to be a chore as some folks think (of course I love to write, so it’s a little different for me).  I admit that some days I don’t have a clue what to say.  But once here with my mind somewhat ‘blank’, the thoughts begin to roll and before long I’m on a roll.

If you don’t have a website for your business or professional life; consider launching a blog that points folks in your direction.  Most of the weblog platforms are free (WordPress is the one we use).  You can use one of their templates or do some creative work and make it your own.  One of our team members doesn’t have a website for her business - but she does have a blog site.

Well I think that’s enough for this moment.  Hopefully you find some “wisdom” in my words and give serious consideration to making a blog and blogging a part of your ‘08 life plan.

Tomorrow we’ll move onto a different topic for Thursday Thoughts.  If you have some “thoughts” for any blogging day, simply send them to me at linda@awomensplace.org. 

And consider joining the Blogging Team (small though it be) here at AWP.  You can arrange that as well by emailing me at linda@awomensplace.org and type “blog team” in the subject line.

Wherever you are - stay tuned and stay connected.  Have an awesome day with much love and such rich blessings you can hardly contain!

Linda

Glitches!  Why is that life is full of so many glitches?  Just when you think it’s smooth sailing ahead, along comes something that delays or otherwise causes frustration and impatience.

The “glitch” I’m dealing with now is that the newly embedded blog here at AWP won’t let me attach pixs as before.   I’ve got to tell you, I don’t handle glitches well, which is why the Lord continues to permit them in my life.  I know that before ’smooth sailing’ I’m going to have to handle life glitches with greater grace and ease.  Hopefully, once Glenn is much better (he’s been very ill), he’ll fix the problem.  By the way, keep him in your prayers as his voice mail message tells me he’s really under the weather.

That’s not why I came to chat today.  There’s so much I could share I don’t know where to start.  I bought a book at the Orlando airport for the fly home and it’s awesome!  “Play to Win” is about a change of attitude as we manuever life events, especially our business and professional life.  There’s some great stuff in it, but I haven’t read enough to begin to share at this point.  Give me enough time and I’ll distill what I’m reading and give you some of the insights from the Larry and Hersch Wilson book.

While in Florida, I started a conversation here on energy and investment.  The Wilson’s talk about “energy” and “investment” - that change, which is inevitable, requires “energy” and an “investment”.

Why is it that we resist change, preferring to stay in our comfortable zone?  We know that we should invest the time and energy to make change in our lives, but avoid it at all costs.

I think we all know that it’s the fear of the unknown that holds us back.  Even when our current circumstances are not what we want, we stay because at least we know what to expect.

I’m convinced that’s why our heavenly Papa allows situations to come into our lives that force us out of the ‘boxes’ or ‘ruts’ in which we find ourselves.  ‘Boxes’ in which we lanquish simply because it’s easier and less threatening to do so.  If we’re going to get on with life - a life filled with passionate purpose, we have to move out, venture on and take the risks that doing so requires.

The energy required of us is emotional energy.  Energy that saps us physically, psychologically and spiritually when we ‘hang back’.  My personal and professional experience has been that when we take that step forward - either by choice or by circumstance - the emotional drain of indecision gives way to a huge burst of new energy.

I don’t know how many of us here have suddenly found ourselves in mid-life with a broken relationship that comes to an abrupt halt.  Unfortunately, that life circumstance has become all too common for many women over 40 and is the ‘crisis’ that propels them into the 2nd half of the journey - into transition.

Many with whom I’ve had conversation tell me that once the initial shock wears off - with all it’s fears, doubts, sadness and hurt - there’s often a feeling of exhilaration.  A door closes and a new world awaits.  Mixed energy looking for a place in which to invest itself.

It may not be something so dramatic and life-changing as separation, divorce or death of a loved one.  It may simply be the call to do something new and different with our life. 

That ‘call’ or ‘urge’ or whatever we choose to label it, is a hallmark of entry into the 2nd half of the journey.  For most, it’s the defining moment.

Tomorrow, I’ll talk more about how to confront, do battle with and be victorious over the fear that robs us of the energetic energy inherent in change.  And I’ll give you a little exercise you can use to rationally and reasonably deal with the fear of moving on and moving out.

It’s still very new in the new year.  It’s the time to confront what held us back in the past and apply it to a new day while the day is still young.

In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your day.  Stay tuned to us and stay connected.  Much love and rich blessings!

 Linda

What a shock!  From the warm 75 degrees of Orlando to the cold of east central Indiana - all in one day!

Yes, today was travel day.  And most of you know if you come here often and read what we write here, that “re-entry” is very difficult for me.  It’s the change of pace, although the pace in sunny Florida was hectic to say the least.  But it was great to spend time with Willy, Karen and Charmaine, as well as with Sylvia and some of her family. 

Now I love to drive.  I’ve always loved the lure of the open road with it’s unexpected detours and roadside treasures hidden away on back country roads.  But driving in Orlando and surrounds is an exercise in strength, courage and patience.  There never seems to be a time when the roads are not clogged with cars moving too slowly.  It took me nearly 2 hours to go from Kissimmee to Longwood (the back way).

Speaking of driving - it seems that’s all I did.  Since I was the designated rental car driver, I was delivery girl and official ‘taxi’ driver.  Yesterday we drove to Lake Placid, 2 hours south of Orlando so Harold could visit a brother who winters in Florida.  I have to share this with you although it’s not profound or particularly informational.  You almost had to be there to really appreciate the sheer terror this accomplished driver felt as cycles roared around me at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour.

It was about 11:00 a.m. on a quiet Sunday morning and we had just ventured onto I-4 (that treacherous interstate that runs from north of Orlando to Tampa).  Now I hate I-4!  I stay off it if at all possible.  But we only had to drive it for less than 5 miles - so what could be so scary about that?

Suddenly from behind me I heard the roar of great engines.  I glanced in the rearview mirror and for as far as my eyes could see, the 4-lane highway was covered with motorcycles.  They were speeding toward the traffic with great vengeance.  Before I could attempt to move into the far right lane, they swooped upon us.  Swishing in and out of the heavy traffic.  Apparently I was not far enough into the right lane, so several of these beasts roared between me and the car next to me as if to say “move over lady”.

There were at least 500 of them!  Loud, noisy and roaring up the highway at breakneck speed.  I was terrified as they wove in and around the traffic (looked like a swarm of bees). 

I was so frightened that I lost my cool.  I yelled at one of them who cut me off and I must confess - what I yelled was not nice and definitely not ladylike!

As if that wasn’t enough, one of these monsters decided to show-off.  Right in front of a big black suburban in the lane next to me, and several cars ahead - a daredevil cyclist did a ‘wheely’ down the highway with the suburban dutifully in tow.

I thought I’d faint!

I can’t tell you how relieved I was to see our exit 1/2 mile ahead.  As I drove onto the ramp, I thought I might have to check my pulse and blood pressure.

Is that a sign of advancing years?  Being concerned for the safety of the other cars (with people in them) on the road!  Trying to also be equally concerned for the safety of the cyclists.  Or is it just that the more chronologically mature we become, the less our personal ‘daredevil’ tends to show up.

The rest of the drive to Lake Placid was uneventful and the return trip up I-4 held no such excitement.  I must admit, traveling on one of the world’s busiest highways amidst 500 cycles is excitement I can do without.

So much for the wilds of central Florida.  I love the city and the warmth in the middle of winter - but home is always a great place to come ‘home’ to.

Tomorrow, it will be back to business as usual, playing catch up and getting on with the goals and objectives we’ve set for ourselves.  I promise to keep my nose to the stone without much digression and hopefully add a little richness, enthusiasm and empowerment as we go.

Have an awesome evening with much love and rich blessings.

Good Morning AWP friends,

As I journey through my masters program and I try to wrap my brain around the business law class I am in I thought I would share with you some of my favorite books. Currently I am not finding much time for any leisurely reading and I do miss it. I finally bought the bookshelves for my office and unpacked all my books, it was like a trip down memory lane!

My all time favorite book is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. This delightful novel protrays a story of what happens to the free enterprise in America when the government imposes laws and regulations on the businesses. Some real food for thought.

I love everything that Sidney Sheldon, John Grisham and Tess Gerritsen have written.

Recently I was introduced to Janet Evanovich and I have only had the opportunity to read One for the Money, it was truly a laugh out loud book! I can hardley wait to read more of her work.

Now not all of my reading is novels, I spend much of my reading time (before entering a masters program) on personal development. One of my particular favorites is Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen. Another classic, in my opinion, is a book given to me by my grandmother, Women Who Win: The Proverbs Way to Successful Living by Mary C. Crowley.

Have a blessed new year and take a little time to read some of your favorite books. I look forward to hearing from others their favorite reading list!

Make it a great day!

Kim Brown, RN  BSN

I know, I know!  You’re probably as eager as I am to come here and find the newly designed site. 

I’ve tried totally walking away from the site, thinking “when I come back here - whala, there it will be!”

Things take time and great things take even longer, so I’m assuming Glenn is feverishly working away to get us up before doing a one-day stint in Atlanta tomorrow.  Anyway,  let’s try to be as patient as we can as all good things come in good time.  Hopefully that’s by the close of today.

I’m looking at the remaining 6 blog ‘commandments’ and thinking there’s no way I can roll them into one session here, doing any of them justice.  I’ve made an executive decision to put off ’til tomorrow what I don’t want to do today.  Besides this Florida ‘gig’ is supposed to be somewhat leisurely.

Instead I want to say a few words about energy and investment.  Maybe I’ve got those backwards - investment and energy.

When the new year rolls into reality, there’s an energy - an excitement that moves us from the lull of the old to the ‘jumpstart’ of the new.  Doesn’t matter the weather or our temperment or anything else - it’s part of our human nature.  You mention “new” and folks experience some level of excitement.  What’s important to us as we transition through the 2nd half of the journey is to harness that energy in a way that it becomes focused and targeted.

Whoever thought of shaping and forming energy?  Yet in the scientific world, it’s done everyday.  We talk of harnessing the wind or water to power electricity.  Why not talk about harnessing the human energy we feel when dreaming of what can and will come about with a new year - a new vision - a new reality?

Just as harnessing natural elements for the benefit of our species requires an investment (time, money, mental clarity, education, knowledge, etc.); so does the harnessing of our psyche-energy for the purpose of propelling us forward with our dreams, visions, goals, objectives and life plan.

The time to do that is NOW!

If dramatic personal life changes took place last year, take out a box (yes, a real box).  If you journaled last year about those changes - take out the pages, tear them in small pieces and drop them in the box!  If journaling was not a part of your strategy for last year, then write your feelings, etc. on small pieces of paper and drop them in the box.

Once done with that task, seal the box with tape and set it in a location where you can talk to it.  I know, I know - that sounds crazy.  But the truth is that the slips of paper disposed of in the box represent a letting go of what wounded you last year.  The box represents the container you’re using to discard those painful things - once and for all.  “Say” your “goodbyes” to all that hurt in life during the previous 12 months.  Cry, yell, stomp if you must - but let go, let go, let go!

Put the box in the trash.  Better still find a safe place to burn it.  There - done with that!  Of course, those emotions will attempt to creep back in, but simply ’speak them away’!

Regardless of whether we had a personal issue that propelled us into transition in ‘07 or not, we all had episodes that did not go well or according to plan.  So the above scenario fits for us all.

Did I digress?  NO!  It takes energy to unload our psyche - that which gets embedded in our emotional gut.  And it takes a commitment to invest the time, emotion, risk of feeling silly or whatever other investment we must make to unload before reloading.

I’m going to talk often this year about energy & investment.  Energy is what propels us humans on to new adventures and awesome success.  Investment is what it takes to turn that energy into practical use.

Now, take another box (a small file box with 3/5 or 4/6 cards will do).  Write what energizes you when you focus on it mentally.  When you think about the possibility or probability of doing this or accomplishing that.  Date the card & don’t forget to describe the emotion that accompanies the mental images that come to mind.   On the reverse side of the card, record the investment you believe it will take to make it happen & record the investment(s) you’re willing to make to do so.  List what you think you’ll need as a support system (strategic networking partnerships; a mentor to guide you through the process; investment partners, etc.). 

Drop them into your small file box.  This is your Vision Box.  Your energy & investment portfolio!

What an awesome way to get going while the year is still in diapers - fresh, new and sweet smelling!

I just looked at the clock and I have to clean the bod’ and get moving myself.  Loads to do today.  A big meeting tonight with awesome Florida women to get ready for.

I’ll be back tomorrow and hopefully when I get here, this place will have been totally redecorated by our fabulous designer, Glenn.  If not, it won’t be long and I’ll assume that the wonders of technology had a glitch somewhere that time and patience will render ‘done’.

Until then - stay tuned and stay connected.  Much love and many rich blessings in your awesome day!

   Linda

Read my lips!  The sun and warmth of central Florida does wonders for one’s soul.  I recommend a mid-January retreat for everyone.  Even when the cell phone and laptop are in tow - it’s great to get away even when business is part of the strategy.

We’re down to the 3rd commandment of Don Zak’s 10 Blogging commandments, and I’m not sure I’ve risen to his standard for this one.  He says we need to make everything easy to read and access.  We’re instructed to keep our visual aesthetics simple and put “flagship” content at the forefront.  There are, of course, the typical marketing strategies one would expect: inform your blog readers on the home page and direct them to what you consider your most significant blog posts; point out your top 10 comments posts in a prominent place so first-time visitors can quickly access material that others have found interesting and valuable.  If you notice on our blog, there are incoming links from other websites that are linked to ours through RSS feeds.  Subscribe to the top blog ranking sites, such as Technorati and place their widget on your blog.

So much for the technical ’stuff’ of the Zak series.  What’s most important is that our blog conversations meet the needs of our readers.  If it doesn’t no matter of aesthetics, readability or access makes any difference.  It’s important to know what our readers want to know - want to learn.  Just like political campaigns, blog owners and writers have to connect with their readers at the ‘gut’ level.  It’s less about what we say and more how we say it!

We’ve talked about sharing some of our personal history when blogging.  It’s equally important to be candid and transparent as well.  That may sound strange if your blogging to promote a product or services; but the truth is that we do business and form relationships with others we trust.  And trust grows as we get to know each other at a deeper and more personal level.

Well today is our first full day in the city beautiful, and I look forward to reconnecting with team members in this area.  Also looking forward to meeting with a group of women interested in launching an early Affiliated Women in the MarketPlace network in this area and that’s exciting.  Keep our efforts here in your prayers.

Tomorrow and Saturday, I’ll summarize the rest of the 10 blogging commandments as the remaining ones are less “sexy” (hard to write creatively about) and next week we’ll move to new matters related to moving through the new year with renewed vigor.

Until then, stay tuned and stay connected.  Have an awesome day with much love and many blessings.

  Linda

Somehow we got off on the topic of blogging as a viable marketing tool for us - whether as a business stategy for ‘08 or as a social-personal-spiritual networking tool.  Some experts tell us that some folks are making a significant income from well-done blogs.

Don Zak (Washington Post) who authored Monday’s Star article on blogging lists the following as his #2 blogging “commandment”:  “Create a voice for yourself”!

He suggests we find one and “brand it”.  It doesn’t have to be rocket science.  It can be as simple as writing on one particular topic or blogging on many topics with a singular theme and tone.  People who frequent your blog are more likely to remember it and return often if it offers something unique.

We live in the early days of an information age.  Yes, I say “early” because I think we “haven’t seen anything yet!”  Today I heard that the CEO of General Motors is addressing a conference somewhere today talking about a driverless car that may be reality as soon as 2012.  Just the other day I was thinking about the changes I’ve experienced in 69+ short years - from radio only (my g’kids can’t believe I grew up without TV) to landing on the moon to technology that connects folks on either side of the globe as if they were next door neighbors.  The above is why I say the “early stages”.  As technology becomes more and more refined and sophisticated, we will more and more depend on finding information via cyberspace - whether from traditional educational venues or from others who have experience and wisdom from which we can learn.

 And we learn from them because they “blog”!  Shortly here at AWP, we’ll learn about coffee from Anita Griggs, who walked out of her comfort zone to open her specialty coffee business and is an expert at blending the unique and roasting them into exotic blends we’ll all enjoy. 

Quite frankly, Anita, you could be a guest blogger at AWP and enlighten and educate us on all things JAVA!

The more we share of ourselves (within reason of course) and about our areas of expertise, our products or services; the more likely we are to gather a following who will loyally connect with us on a consistent basis.

Do you have to be a good writer?  Gee I don’t know.  Good or reasonable grammar is expected and punctuation helps make sense of what you write.  But does blogging require a Hemingway or Steinbeck?  No, it doesn’t!

It requires some time - but not nearly what some folks think it may take to do a 3 - 4 paragraph daily post week in and week out.  Does it take a great deal of knowledge and expertise.  Not necessarily.  We all have areas where we are a collection of knowledge, experience and wisdom.  That is what folks are looking for - and they’re looking for a consistent brand that says something about you (catchy slogan or phrases that when they hear it they automatically think of “Linda” or “Susie” or “Jane”).

I’m almost done for today.  But I’m thinking of Carine who posted yesterday on the simplicity and awesome savings we gain when we take the time to “clip our coupons”.  Simple, but one of her areas of expertise along with excellent recipes and home advice.  That’s her ‘niche’ - a hobby and at some point we hope - a business.  The business of blogging for financial reward perhaps.

Well I think I milked commandment #2 for all it’s worth.  I hope you’re staying connected to these posts because it’s important stuff.  Really, blogging is the hottest phenomena on the internet today and it doesn’t appear to be a passing fad.

Tomorrow a.m. I take off for Florida with cell and laptop in hand (along with Monday’s copy of the Indy Star).  Sometime tomorrow, I’ll stop by here and share more from Zak’s “Blogging Commandments”.

In the meantime, keep us in prayer as we fly tomorrow.  Stay safe and stay connected.  Much love and rich blessings to all!

   Linda