Julie Roads of Writing Roads is a professional copywriter (specializing in blog, social media and web writing) and a book & blog ghostwriter. You can find her at Writing Roads (her writing blog), Soc Media 101 (how-tos and tips for beginners) and The Daily Norm (a collection of interviews with abnormally magnificent people about their normal, daily lives).

I’m standing on the other side of the abyss, the good side. And I wanted to let you all know that the ground here is high and dry, nearly heady.

Because I read your comments carefully - and because, as far as I can tell, we’re both human - I’m going to guess that at one point or another you’ve stood on the scary side of the abyss just like I did before I got to the cushy side.

You wanted to do something, you needed to do something…but the canyon that stood between you and accomplishment just looked too damn big, wide, menacing. Impossible, you said. And sat down.

My alarm goes off at 4:30. I jump out of bed and look out the window. It’s snowing. I smile smugly at the snow. Bring it, I think smugly. Pull on my layers of Capilene, my bright orange hat, my running shoes. And head out for an eight mile run before I go to work.

This used to be my norm. Miles run, laps swum, heart pounded, sweat drenched - before the sun rose.

And then my body abruptly took on new super powers forms of exercise: first, it grew another human being; then, it made milk. Needless to say, my body was preoccupied with performing miracles. Too busy to hit the trails or the pool.

But, last spring, something changed. My ass literally tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Um, I’m thinking we should shift things back into high gear…you?’

Which is when I realized that I was standing on that cliff. On the scary side of the abyss. I had a lot of reasons why I couldn’t take the leap:

• I’m too old.
• My body forgot how.
• Once you get past a certain point, it’s just pointless.
• I don’t have time.
• I’m so frickin’ tired.
• Have you seen my parents? (I love them and they’re beautiful, but they don’t have super model bodies. I’m just sayin’.)

In the middle of this tirade, I ran into a good friend who had just finished a long rollerblade, and she told me, “It gets you right here”, and she grabbed her butt. “Makes it burn,” she said. And my ass took notice. And, then it tapped me on the shoulder again. I took the bait. I didn’t think, just started to move again.

I had really believed all of my reasons why I couldn’t do this, but they just weren’t true. Bodies are amazing - they snap back in a way that is extraordinary. Minds do too. My ‘get up and go’ tape started playing again, as if I’d simply hit play again after a long moment with the pause button down. We both quickly forgot how long that moment had been.

Now, it’s been five months. And someone recently told me that my belly looks the same as it did when I was 16. Is that really true? Um, ish. Is it a miracle? Nah. I just think that I got way too comfortable on the pitiful side of the abyss. Too shlumpy to realize the infinite possibilities hanging out across the way.

Sometimes life feels like a series of cliff dives - scary, exhilarating, progressive. The above experience being just one of my abysses. For you, it might be finally going to law school, having a baby, getting up on that karaoke stage, or - drumroll, please - writing (creatively, professionally, bloggingly).

Whatever it is, I’ll save you a seat on the other side. Believe me, if you don’t already know, the view is fabulous.

Image credit: Scampercom

Kneale Mann is a writer, a coach and a strategist. With 26 years experience, he consultants on communications, marketing and social media strategy in the private, hi-tech and public sectors. He is also an associate with CEPSM and a member of the TEDxOttawa organization team.

We All Have Choices

Recently, a friend sent me a copy of Rick Butts’ book “7 Choices”. In it, Rick talks about the time we work on us verses the time we work on what we do or getting customers or what we can offer. In the age of social networking, we can all create profiles and exchange ideas and share. But how much time do we spent on better understanding ourselves?

In 1943, Abraham Maslow outlined our need to belong in his paper Hierarchy of Needs. No matter your age or situation, you want your life to have purpose and passion. That is the core of why we may get stuck – we aren’t following either. We haven’t deciphered who we are and what drives our passion. All too often we seek external confirmation.

Internet Friends

If you are immersed in social media and haven’t taken a moment to think of all the wonderful people you would not have met otherwise you are missing the essential part of the process. In my case, I met Liz Strauss and Kathryn Jennex and over the course of two years we all got to know each other. A few tweets turned in to some emails and phone calls then in to actual work. I look forward to new projects with them in 2010. My friend Lisa Hickey calls it accelerated serendipity.

I was at an event last week and realized that the twenty or so people I was sitting with had all met online. We shared similar sensibilities, we found trust with each other and we want each other to be happy and do well.

So why do we get stuck? Is it because no one will help us realize our passion and purpose? Or is it that we haven’t discovered it inside us in order to tell people what we want?

Three years ago, a friend gave me a copy of The Secret and I have told this story numerous times but I watched the first half of the film with my closed mind and arms folded and the second half taking notes. But notes aren’t enough. We need action and focus. We are human. We get stuck. We fall into the same traps of listening to the opinions of naysayers. We fail to listen to that pang in deep in our gut.

I was speaking with a client the other day about Ellen DeGeneres. She endured three years of unanswered phone calls. No one wanted to hire her and she was running out of money. She was stuck. She then got the idea of doing her own talk show. The studios weren’t falling over themselves to help her realize her dream. But she made it happen and built it into one of the most popular shows on television. It took work and persistence. She did it because she found out who she was and got unstuck.

Why do you get stuck? Why are you not following your dreams and passions and purpose? Or maybe you are?

Does this mean we shouldn’t discover people we trust to help us navigate this journey? Ask the most successful people on the planet if they get stuck and you will get a resounding – YES! None of us is immune. But if someone asks you to help them get unstuck, forget their resume or the past and listen to what they need. If you do, magic will happen for both of you.

David Spinks is the Community Manager for Scribnia, where the world’s bloggers and columnists are reviewed by their readers. He also blogs at The Spinks Blog about business, young professionals and social media.”

Starting a blog takes a lot of guts. Making that leap into the public eye isn’t easy! Even after you get started, maintaining a blog that doesn’t get much traffic or comments right away can be discouraging.

It was right here on Liz Strauss’ blog where I got my first dose of confidence in my blogging career. Back in January when I was still a senior at SUNY Genseo, I had become friends with Kathryn Jennex through twitter and my blog, and she was kind enough to include me in one of her posts on this blog.

I’ll never forget that post. It was my first reassurance that maintaining my blog was a good idea…and now here I am again almost a full year later. I now work full time doing something that I absolutely love.

Every young professional or professionally aspiring student has a great deal to gain from starting a blog. The time and commitment that you have to put into maintaining a blog is greatly outweighed by the value that you get out of it.

I started my blog at the beginning of the second semester of my senior year. While I didn’t plan it this way originally, looking back, I think this is a perfect time for students to start a blog. It’s right around the time when most college students start taking their career seriously. They see graduation day fast approaching, and worry about what they’re future will look like.

Here are some reasons why starting a blog in your senior year is a perfect transition from college into the real world:

1. Best of both worlds. To this point, you’ve probably only learned from teachers, looking in from the outside. Reading blogs, and starting your own blog will allow you to put one foot into the real world, while keeping the other foot in school. You can learn what the industry is really like, in a setting outside of the classroom.
2. Start to make connections. For networking, there are few methods that are better than blogging. Not only because people read your work, but also because you’ll be reading others’ work and commenting there. You can tie your blogging conversations to conversations on twitter and make connections there too. You can go to 100 job fairs in your senior year, but all you need is the right connection at the right time, and you’ll find a job.
3. Catch up on trends. Most college courses have one major downside, they talk about the past. Very few professional courses will teach you the newest and most innovative methods that are being used today. Blogging tends to take place at the cutting edge. If there’s a new trend or tool, the blogosphere has it covered.
4. Make yourself an attractive candidate. You’d be amazed how highly regarded bloggers are in the professional world. They’re considered thought leaders, innovators and leaders. Your blog displays your knowledge, your commitment and your ability to write/communicate. It will be a huge differentiator when you’re competing for job openings.

It’s been an amazing experience for me and has proven that the time put in truly pays off. I meet amazing people like Kathryn and Liz every day. Without blogging, none of it would have been possible.

So what are you waiting for? Start reading and writing some blog posts. Inspire yourself to inspire others.

Richard Reeve is an administrator at the Family Foundation School, a
candidate for Analytical training at the C. G. Jung Institute of New
York. He blogs at Catskill Cottage Seed.

“And the Master said unto the silence, “In the path of our happiness
shall we find the learning for which we have chosen this lifetime. So
it is that I have learned this day, and choose to leave you now to
walk your own path as you please.” Richard Bach, Illusions, pg.23

Liz recommended Bach’s book to me last month when we shared a coffee
at Blogworld.  The tale that emerges from the soil of that Holyland
called Indiana has much to offer folks committed to creating content
streams in the new media.

Social Media gives us ample opportunity and leeway to play.  Our
activity, the specifics of our various moves (all of which can be
boiled down to this simple fourfold way: search, save, post, ignore)is
a useful way to think about our social media practice.

But what do we do, those of us who have found our commitment, if we
are looking to deepen our practice:

Identify your passion(s).

Often folks are in the ballpark of their interest, and if we take the
analogy seriously, they might even have season tickets.  The goal here
is to get out of the stands, put on the “uniform” of the player, and
step up to the plate.  Or perhaps one needs not to pick up a bat, but
instead the ball and walk out to the mound.  The point I’m driving at
is simple.  There’s a huge difference between being “around” your
interest
And going out onto the field of your passion and being a player in the game.

Consider typology within your audience.

By this, I’m picking up on the marketing technique of having a
customer profile, but trying to push it a bit further along the lines
of psychological typology.  Producing different types of content for
different types of people leads to a surprising range in the content
one produces and/or shares.  Thinking types have a very different
appetite for information than the feeling types.  The same can be said
of intuitives and sensates.  Exploring these preferences in others can
open options you might not have otherwise considered.

Avoid ruts at all cost.

Invest in rut insurance.  Anytime I’m struggling with my practice I
review this imaginary policy which states: nothing will be lost if one
lessons one’s frequency of participation, takes a hiatus, or stops
using any of these tools.

Be an individual.

We add more by walking through the world in our unique way than by
copying anyone else.  I dare you to live this fact through your
participation in social media (just as Liz did with me by suggesting I
read Illusions…

…and wishing you, Liz, the speediest of recoveries.

Lisa D. Jenkins has over a decade of experience marketing festivals, special events, non-profit organizations and small businesses. She speaks, consults and educates on the integration of social media into current marketing efforts, with a focus on measurable results; recent clients include Lewis-Clark State College Community Programs, Idaho Small Business Development Center, Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association, and Hells Canyon Visitor Bureau.

In my comment on Amber Naslund’s current post, I referred to a thought pattern wherein some community caretakers fall into a sort of “I built this community, it’s mine” mentality.  Pride in accomplishment I understand, but impeding the growth of reach I do not.

I’ve watched from the sidelines as a healthy, vibrant branded community failed when people were repeatedly challenged by profile administrators who felt the need to dictate how and when a conversation should take place.  The resulting tug of war was short-lived.  Community members moved on to a space where they were appreciated, encouraged to express their opinions and excitement without being snarked at.  (“Snarked at” is a technical term that, used here, means asserting one’s authority in an aggressive and unnecessary manner.)

I help create communities in the hope that people will come, join in the conversation and share the message with their friends and family.  I strongly support the idea that these communities need a knowledgeable facilitator to protect the integrity of their subject, but I do not believe a facilitator should stunt conversations they themselves have not started.

What do you think?

I stopped on my way home on Friday to take a photo of the clouds at sunset.
My focus had been on the beauty of the clouds and the various shades of grey and yellows.

It wasn’t until I downloaded the photo to the computer that I saw the beautiful reflections mirrored in the water.

There is often beauty around us that we do not notice at the time.- Suzie

Suzie Cheel & Des Walsh

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 to me. Thie award carries a “Liz said so” guarantee, is endorsed by Kings of the Hemispheres, Martin and Michael, and is 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– A-Z Directory . Click the link or visit the What IS an SOB?! page in the sidebar.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Screencasting is recording actions on the screen with narration. It’s a great way to show people how.

What it says it does: allow screencasting without software.
How well it does that: screenr is easy and intuitive.

1. Size the capture screen to the website you want to discuss.
2. Click the record button and record.
3. Pause if you want.
4. Then wait, a few minutes for it to process.

Embed the screencast in your eCourse, download the video as MP4, upload it to your You-Tube channel, and watch it on your iPhone! Send it to Twitter. Post it on your blog.

It’s free and great to use.

How to Add Text to Your Twitter Background

For fun, I made this screencast of how to add text to your Twitter Background. It was mostly to test the tool.

Here’s the link to the screenr version.

Lots of ways to share information with people using screenr and your expertise.

I make connections . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
Buy the ebook and find out the secret.

I was asked to write this guest post about the power of simplicity in blog design and honestly, I was at a loss for words. What does it mean to have simplicity in blog design? Are we discussing the concepts of the layout design? Or a universal view of all things blog? I am not here to talk about the back-end coding of a blog, the rules of user interface design, or minimalistic thoughts on design…but the ability to give your readers the easiest way to read your valuable CONTENT.

It is easy to say that the simpler the design the better. I mean… look at Google and Yahoo. Google has one of the simplest website designs… ever. The design hasn’t changed much since the creation of the search engine. While Yahoo… in all of the search world glory… has everything but a kitchen sink. Google has proved that simplicity wins in design but where does simplicity fit in blog design?

I could give you a list of the top 10 reasons why blog design should be simple… but honestly… we don’t have the time. There is one reason why your blog design should be simplistic in nature…

Readers should have the ability to scan your content without experiencing a headache or stress… which will eventually lead to a heart attack.. which none of us want…NO READER DEATHS!

I’m taking the Google route. Simplicity in blog design is key because YOUR content must be easy to scan by the reader. I am not here to preach. In no stretch of the imagination is my blog even close to simplistic… but it is closer than most. What do you want the visitor to experience when surfing your blog and your content?

Remember, your content is king. Design around your content.

Since design is the main topic of conversation in this post.. I wanted to share with you 5 blogs I find extremely BRILLIANT when it comes to simplistic design.

1. Blog What? Design

2. AI Alex

3. Dive Into Mark

4. Design Intellection

5. I am Neato

They focus on the content… period.

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Kyle Lacy oversees a company called Brandswag, which focuses on design, branding and social media education. With offices in Indianapolis and Oklahoma City, Brandswag helps business owners connect with their customers and sustain profitability by presenting consistent images and messages in the marketplace. He recently finished writing Twitter Marketing for Dummies which can be found on Amazon.com
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Kyle, thank you! This is the best on the subject I’ve seen in a long time.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

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I’ve been working on a special project with Kristi Daeda, an awesome friend, writer, and career counselor. Our project will take many forms for people working on true trust and business relationships. Right now we’re working on breaks in our trust and world view. We’ve named them structure damage.

What Is Structure Damage?

It can happen when the world seems most in order. Suddenly, without warning, someone or something pulls the rug out of from under us. Trusting what’s next can be hard.

Structure damage occurs when we are faced with a change that we’re not prepared to deal with. The change can be big or small, it can occur in our professional lives or our personal lives, it can be something that happens to us or something that we realize or decide that changes the way we see the world.

Not every change causes structure damage. Structure damage is when change moves us into that fight-or-flight mode, impacting our emotions, behavior or worldview. The change doesn’t have to represent a threat, it only has to be perceived as one.

If you want to catch the situation before it gets out of hand, get in touch with what’s normal for you, and what’s abnormal. If you’re experiencing any of the following, you might be suffering from a shaking foundation.

• Stress that you can’t pinpoint the source of. It doesn’t go away when the project’s done or when you’re away from work.
• An emotional reaction that’s out of step with the situation, like snapping at a coworker.
• Taking things personally.
• Feeling like you don’t know what the next step is to move forward.
• Irrational fear, confusion, or distress.
• Questioning your current situation or future path.
• A feeling of powerlessness.

In high-stress situations, you may also experience physiological effects — things like your heart pounding, difficulty focusing, or headaches.

If you normally feel confident and in control, dramatic swings from even keel are a sign that something’s up. That’s your opportunity to ask yourself why you’re feeling the way that you are. Start working backwards — when did you start feeling this way? Did something trigger that change? What about that trigger situation upset you? Keep tracking, and you might be able to find the source — the body blow.

How to minimize the impact

Cultivate flexibility … a few words from Kristi …

Most people think of bridges as static structures. Concrete and steel, built to weather all manner of abuse. But bridges have hinges and joints. They flex and sway in the wind. Their components are engineered to not only be strong enough to bear the weight of traffic, but also to bend to carry the weight of traffic and respond to the elements. It’s this flexibility that allows this giant machine to function, bearing the impact, working with the conditions.

Growing up, my definition of a successful life was to pursue an education, get a job in a traditionally respected, intellectual, moderately lucrative field, get married, have kids, and buy a house in the suburbs. I had a few gifts to bring to the table, but perhaps one of the most notable was my ability in math and science. It was a natural progression to consider engineering as a field.

When I got to college, I struggled with my classes. Not because I wasn’t capable, but because I couldn’t motivate myself to do the work. For someone who has never had a shortage of drive, this was unsettling. What was wrong with me? I ended up frustrated, confused. I tried to reconcile my definition of success with what I was feeling every day — that I was on the wrong path.

My entire worldview — the plan I had laid out for myself, the rules that I lived by — was on very shaky ground.

The structure damage I experienced was to my understanding of success.

There’s a difference between being in control and being prepared. Being prepared allows you to create a platform for success as you’ll be ready to deal with most issues that come your way. The effort to be in control can only lead to frustration — the world is so large, and your span of control is really miniscule in comparison.

• Let go of your master plan. The least predictive question still asked in job interviews is this: where do you see yourself in five years? At the pace the world is moving, it’s difficult to predict where you’ll be in five months. We resist change mostly because in order to accept change, we have to relinquish control. We like to have things in order, buttoned up all the time. It’s why we’re so into productivity and time management — helps us build systems to keep things from falling through the cracks. But some of the best things in our lives come when we’re completely out of control. How would your energy change if you didn’t have to push for a specific result all the time, racing across the stream or upstream, and instead went with the flow? Chances are you’ll get to as good or better of an outcome, with a lot less paddling.
• Look for the opportunity. Practice this skill. When something comes your way that’s unexpected, ask yourself — what doors are open now that weren’t before? It may take a few minutes to shake off your initial reaction, but after that, take a minute and answer the question. It doesn’t do you any good to focus on the paths that have closed to you. Keep yourself focused on how you can move forward.
• Challenge yourself to succeed. Adapting to change is a verifiable skill. If you can bounce back from a layoff, create a positive lifestyle after divorce, or even change your agenda when all the players aren’t in place, it’s an accomplishment. Dealing with change is such a valuable skill in the business world that there’s an entire area of specialization — Change Management — just for people who can facilitate it well. So aim to make your reaction to change a badge of honor. It’s a badge that will serve you well.

We’ve all found ourselves in a situation where someone or something has moved what we believe. Winners take up the gauntlet and find a new set of rules.

How do you recover when structure damage strikes where you live?

–ME “Liz” Strauss and Kristi Daeda
Work with Liz on your business!!

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