July 2nd, 2009
2 comments
Dear Reader,
Today is my 34th birthday, and I have to admit I love birthdays. I am notorious for telling everyone and anyone who’ll listen that it is my birthday.
My friend Phil F. and I eat lunch together most days. I wanted sushi, so we walked across the street and the mall parking lot for lunch at the Ridgedale Origami.
When we arrived the host asked, “do you want to sit inside or outside?”
“Outside,” I exclaimed. “It’s my birthday!”
“Follow me, Princess,” he deadpanned.
I asked Phil over edamame and green iced tea what he thought about my goals for the year.
“You want a significant life change, right?” he asked.
Actually, yes. That’s what I am looking for in 34, and there are plenty of possibilities and opportunities. I don’t know if that’s a career change or a change in my current career. Maybe it’s another degree or PhD (to this end I do plan to retake the GRE this year). A new relationship would also be welcome. I would love to be in love again. I’d consider a change in venue (although Phil wanted to veto this one). And I’d love to travel extensively this year.
Here are some less lofty goals that would be fun to do this year:
* join a flash mob
* find a geocache
* learn how to decoupage
* be the mayor of a place on Foursquare
* spend a weekend on the North Shore with friends
* make granny squares (crochet)
* try Bikram Yoga
* join a writing group or take a writing class
* learn how to and make ceviche
* go to spin class regularly
If you have any other suggestions, suggest away. Ideas? Let me know.
Love, Meg
July 1st, 2009
4 comments
I have been talking a lot this past year about success and failure, and the A’s and F’s on my ”life scorecard”. My friend Nicole even made me a new scorecard in an attempt to show my that my old ideas about how to judge my life were just that, old. (I liked her new rubric very much.) A few years ago someone told me that I had three out of the big four life achievements, by her count. According to that scoring tool, I am now down to one. And yet, as I think about my life, the balance seems to still lean toward the wins column.
Why do we always seem to look at life in through such strange lenses?
I believe the desire to see life as a destination rather than a journey is an easy trap. We look to degrees, accomplishments, relationships, material success and promotions. We attend big events like reunions, weddings, funerals, and take stock rather than living in the moment.
I use the phrase trial and error (or success) frequently when talking to groups about learning new technology. I acknowledge that this is also true in life. It is okay to make mistakes. Mistakes allow us to course correct. We are all still learning on this journey. Stay tuned for an annual list of goals (not keeping score) as my next step begins tomorrow.
June 23rd, 2009
Had a lot of fun speaking to a group of leaders who attended the Minnesota Council for Nonprofit’s “Nonprofit Essentials.” Here’s the presentation as promised:
June 20th, 2009
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Sea Salt Eatery at Minnehaha Falls
Fun photoshoot with Jenn Barnett
Spoonbridge and newly re-painted cherry
Lilac nail polish
Palisade Head on the North Shore
Non-profit girlfriends who like to dance!!
June 8th, 2009
2 comments
I shared with you my top ten times to avoid twitter, and appreciated the response. Many of you lamented that you, too, had been guilty of tweeting at the wrong time(s). So when is it a great time to tweet?
- Tweet when you have a question- outsource a decision on which you know your followers will want to give opinions.
- Tweet to thank someone. Gratitude is my top reason to tweet.
- Retweet a nugget of wisdom or link that rocks your world.
- Tweet about a customer service experience. This can be negative or positive. If you had a bad experience, tell the twitterverse, but only if you can include suggestions for how to improve the service or delivery. There aren’t enough stories about good customer service out there. Reward and encourage good service by sharing it.
- Tweet to share music, video, or humor. @myklroventine posts a mambo break to lighten up his followers’ day. See also @comictwit
- Tweet to acknowledge someone you’ve met and with whom would like to stay in contact. Twitter is my electronic Rolodex.
- Tweet to share good news. New baby, new spouse, new home, new job?
- Tweet the mundane. Sometimes reading that others have had similar observations makes us feel part of the larger community. You love listening to the rainstorm outside? Makes me want to go open the window to hear it too.
- Tweet to invite people to an event or gathering.
- Tweet when you need some help. I have reached out and asked for help during hard times. Friends and strangers alike have come through for me.
The great thing about Twitter is that it is a conversation. Whether light-hearted or deep and controversial, I am grateful for this open medium where everyone can share their voices.
Image by by Mykl Roventine & iPotion
June 7th, 2009
6 comments
Twitter, the microblogging darling, allows you, me, anyone to update anyone who will listen. Tweeting under the wrong conditions can be embarrassing at least and disastrous at worst. I am guilty of most of these offenses, and this is more of a learn from my mistakes post than a high and mighty do and don’t list. Even today I deleted posts that I should have never written. So with a little insomnia, here’s my top ten times to avoid twitter:
- Tweeting under the influence: be it cough syrup, wine, or a muscle relaxer. Bad idea. Same goes for fatigue. Being tired is an altered state for me.
- Tweeting at the beginning/end of a relationship. (Same goes for tweeting during dates. They can go south or turn around and get better in the blink of an eye.)
- Tweeting while angry or upset. Don’t say anything you’ll regret. 140 characters isn’t going to cover it anyway. Pull out your paper journal instead.
- Tweeting and driving. Your real-time traffic updates scare me sometimes, folks. If you can tell me someone is tailgating you, please be in the passenger seat.
- Tweeting while feeling below average about yourself. Twitter is not a good place when you are feeling low self-esteem.
- Tweeting about work in a way that shows your disregard or dislike of your clients or customers. It sounds judgmental and unhappy.
- Tweeting when work sucks. Do you like your job? Maybe not. Do you want to keep it? Probably. See also http://ciscofatty.com/
- Tweeting something you wouldn’t say to someone’s face. Ugh. Feels so much easier to just put it out there on this a public forum rather than pick up the phone and say it to you??
- Tweeting when you are in a social situation where others aren’t doing the same. I am terribly guilty of this.
- Tweeting when you have nothing to say. Not time to just make something up. Take a couple deep breaths and try a yoga pose. Get out a take a walk. Cut up some fruit. Find something else to do.
Everybody has a rough patch here and there. I hope that my past offenses are not too egregious. When I am feeling rough on myself, I try to remember the following quote:
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image by by Mykl Roventine & iPotion
May 15th, 2009
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom (baby not included)
Happy Hours and weird events involving the words Social Media or Tech
Scrabble with a worthy opponent
My Minnesota Family
A new headshot- thanks Holly Marie Photography.
Nick and Nora Charles who never forget that a sense of humor is an embarrassment of riches!
May 11th, 2009
Just caught this new site: Geek Advancement and I like what they’re doing: supporting literacy and breaking down stereotypes about those of us who live simultaneously in the real world and online. I was even inspired to join 12 seconds and post a little video. Why am I really a geek? This social networking stuff rocks my world. When I finally learned to be a trial and error (or success) person in 2001, new doors opened so fast I could hardly believe it. I began to love finding information, seeing connections, and understanding new and innovative technology. I am also happy in my geekdom, because I am in such amazing company. My friends revel in the smart kids’ stuff, and love seeing something new.
April 28th, 2009
I recently attended one of my friend, Paul DeBettignies’ (@MNHeadhunter) webinars: Job Search Toolkit - Be Your Own Headhunter. He also has LinkedIn A to Z - Use LinkedIn Like A Headhunter and Using Social Media For Networking, Lead Generation And Job Search. These are one hour each and fantastic if you are seeking a job or working with job seekers. The webinars use GoToMeeting and are audio can be accessed via headphones. THIS IS AMAZING EXPERTISE- FREE!!!
April 23rd, 2009
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Ignite Minneapolis was last night, and it is the closest thing I have ever done to jumping out of a plane.
Here’s the booklist of all the titles in print and at the library on bookspace. Love teen fiction, but read everything on my list? Here’s some more ideas.
