May 2011
35 posts
i make shiny things: Not cool Urban Outfitters,... →
imakeshinythings:
One of my lovely customers sent me a message today with this link.
And here is my United/World of Love line:
My heart sank a little bit. The World/United States of Love line that I created is one of the reasons that I was able to quit my full-time job. They even stole the item…
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Gasp, I've Been Unfollowed...So?
When I started ramping up my Twitter presence, I was somewhat obsessed with my number of followers. Each time someone started following me, I felt so honored. On the flip side, when the number decreased, I’d feel the crushing blow of rejection. Who unfollowed me? Why? It was a constant up and down of emotions.
Then, a couple of things happened. 1- I signed up for http://twunfollow.com/ as a...
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Forces that Form Your Future, via Positive... →
By Kevin Gerald
As I began to study my life and the lives of successful people ahead of me, I discovered a number of forces at work that create the life we live. Once I identify the forces that got me where I am, I can use those forces to my advantage to form my future. Here are a few that I found:
Force of Beliefs Changing your belief system can change your life. You can have something...
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Seth Godin Wisdom in Bite-sized Pieces- Take 6
Fear! We let fear hold us back from so many things. One of my favorite quotes is: You must do the thing you think you cannot do~ Eleanor Roosevelt. But we don’t. Why? Because we are afraid- afraid we might fail, afraid what others will think… Seth Godin says, in order to become a Linchpin; in order to become indispensable, we need to learn to deal with fear.
“If you seek to...
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For My Brother & For Ashley
Sunday evening my dad called me and asked if I had talked to my brother. I had not, but I could tell from his voice that perhaps I should call him immediately. Then he uttered: Jasmine died. Jasmine is my brother’s 8-year-old Chihuahua. And he continued: They had some bad storms in IL that evening and my brother’s house was hit hard. They lost a tree, they had damage to their house,...
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Concerts that Changed My Life
Thanks to a conversation with @nprchick today, I remember that several years ago, I compiled a list of concerts that changed my life. Jon and I love going to concerts. The first few years after we were married were chock full of concerts. Though we’ve tapered off over the years, it still remains our favorite thing to do. Here are the top 10 concerts that changed my life (or at least...
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Seth Godin Wisdom in Bite-sized Pieces- Take 5
It’s gotta be a lot of hard work to be a Linchpin, right? How on earth can we be brilliant all of the time? Here’s Seth’s take:
That law of Linchpin average: The more value you create in your job, the fewer clock minutes of labor you actually spend creating that value. In other words, most of the time, you’re not being brilliant. Most of the time, you do stuff that...
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Memories Do Fade With Time
I remember lying on this couch, staring up at the tree outside my front window as spring turned to summer turned to fall- wondering if I’d always feel this way. Today, on that same couch, staring at that same tree- realizing more than a year has passed- I realized too that I don’t feel that way. It passed with the seasons and reinforced that time really does heal all wounds and with a...
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Seth Godin Wisdom in Bite-sized Pieces- Take 4
It’s taking me longer to get through Linchpin than I’d like. So far, I’ve only managed to read 5 pages at a time, sporadically throughout the past week and a half. However, I will spend more than 9 hours on a plane at the end of this week and I intend to knock most of it out. I am only 47 pages in and have already used more than 100 sticky note markers :)
Here’s my...
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Seth Godin Wisdom in Bite-sized Pieces- Take 3
I love this passage from Seth Godin’s Linchpin. To me, it sums up the point he’s been making over and over in the first 33 pages of his book. The world is changing, and as Tupac says so eloquently, “The old way wasn’t working, so it’s on us to do what we gotta do, to survive.”
The New American Dream
Do you remember the old American Dream?
It struck a chord...
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The Power of Social Fundraising →
Organizations that use online fundraising tools raise 6 times more money that those that don’t. What are you waiting for? Click the link above to see a compelling infographic.
“As long as you don’t forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy rent-free...”
– Isabelle Holland
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Seth Godin Wisdom in Bite-sized Pieces- Take 2
Seth’s point is that you have a choice whether or not you become a Linchpin- whether or not you become indispensable. By reading this book, I am discovering that I have chosen to join an organization that encourages creativity and I am so blessed.
I love this passage:
“If you want a job where it’s okay to follow the rules, don’t be surprised if you get a job where...
WatchOur 2 Great Danes throwing it down in the backyard.
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Seth Godin Wisdom in Bite-sized Pieces- Take 1
Every day, during my lunch, I read a chapter of Seth Godin’s book “Linchpin.” My goal is to share a quote or two here each day.
I picked today’s quote because I’ve been saying this for a long time. It’s one of the many reasons I haven’t stepped foot in a Walmart in years.
“Have you chosen to shop at Wal-Mart? There’s plenty of research that...
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Shareen Vintage- A more elegant "look for less" →
While channel surfing a few weeks ago, I landed on Planet Green and a show called “Dresscue Me.” This was my first introduction to Shareen Mitchell, a vintage entrepreneur. I am now addicted to the show. Each week’s episode features Shareen’s contact with a handful of clients who are all shopping for something to wear for a special occasion.
The show’s premise:...
“Don’t be afraid to be a fool. Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young...”
– Stephen Colbert (via thatkindofwoman)
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Lilac: A Haiku
Oh Lilac, so sweet
I’ve loved you all my life, but
Allergies prevail
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4 Steps to Creating Compelling Content
by Nancy E. Schwartz
Without a systematic approach, implementing effective content marketing is an overwhelming challenge.
Handley and Chapman lay out 11 rules for organizations to follow for content marketing success. Here are the 4 steps you need to start strong:
1) Build a Campfire: But put away your matches.
In the context of content marketing, a campfire is a metaphor for developing...
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Worldwide Linchpin Meet Up Day in Fort Wayne
Apparently, I’ve been living under a rock.
A few days ago, I saw an event organized by the folks at Aptera called “Worldwide Linchpin Meet Up Day.” I noticed some folks I like to connect with on the RSVP list, so I read the description, but was completely lost. After a frenzy of Googling and a few naive questions posted on Twitter, I discovered Seth Godin. I’ve read his...
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Donor Relations Guru: Solicitations, The Good, but... →
Donor Relations Guru Lynne Wester explores the ins and outs of solicitation letters- what works and what doesn’t. Great read for any non-profit professional.
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My Love Affair with Running
I started running in high school because I liked a boy. He was a runner, so naturally, I too became a runner so I could spend time with him. Long story short, I ended up loving running more than I ever loved that boy. I loved the way the pavement or grass or dirt felt beneath my feet and the rhythmic sound it produced. I loved feeling the wind in my hair and on my face. I loved the sound of my own...
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Just How Dangerous is Sitting All Day? →
Startling article with infographic posted by @Andy_Fuller via @mashable. Where can I get a stand up desk?
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From My Daily Insights
Funny how things seem to come to you exactly when you need them. I thought this timely and wanted to share. (Yes, I know, it is not fall, but the message is timely). MY FRIDAY STORY: SUDDENLY ONE DAY
By Ilene Madrigal
It happened. I looked out my back door this morning and fall has officially arrived. The leaves, you know those green leaves that I have enjoyed so much all summer, have suddenly...
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WatchA moving story from StoryCorps about a mother, her children, and cancer.
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Kinds Words from a Kind Man
From a very special Rotarian friend: “It wouldn’t hurt so badly if you hadn’t loved them so much. What a blessing.”
He couldn’t have chosen more appropriate words for that moment. I wouldn’t trade those years nor those memories for anything in the world, so I endure this grief. I am truly blessed.
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“Everyone who has ever taken a shower has had an idea. It’s the person who...”
– ~Nolan Bushnell
I don’t know about you, but all of my best ideas seem to be born in the shower. 