blog block

From time to time people create new phrases that actually describe something I have witnessed yet searched for a term for its correct and concise description.

Blog block.

In the meeting this morning some of my colleagues expressed a reluctance to start their own blog as a means of marketing themselves. As if they were not capable of this (not the case), they had a block preventing them from starting, like the dreaded "writer's block."

My blog block comes from time to time. But in my case I want to express something and keep a regular schedule blogging but don't know quite what or how to say it in virtual words. Or I know I can't say it completely effectively and then just move on to something else more tangible.

Blog block.

I wonder if some of my colleagues and fellow bloggers also experience this, as misery LOVES company--do you ever get blog block?

Sage advice

Aim with your heart, adjust with your head, and always, always, always, do all you can.

A new client sent this to me; thanks, Linda! It epitomizes what we all need to do better, continuously, in our business and personal lives.

No soapbox ranting form me. The words themselves say it all. Let's all practice this!

Optimistic

Daughter moving to Seattle, spreading her wings. Anyone know any architecture or urban planning jobs out there?

Many irons in the fire for a busy August/September. Waiting...

4 speaking engagements booked for September alone.

Fall coming, change in weather, change in perspective.

Optimistic that new developments bring new experiences.

Twitter for Business 101

The whole world seems a-flutter about Twitter and I have been a bit of a sitter on the sidelines, at least until now. I have been tweeting for a few months but am always looking for new ways Twitter can help my business.

Mashable ran a piece called Twitter 101 which is a great guide to ideas on how Twitter can benefit your business. Here it is in hopes it helps you somehow.

Let’s follow each other: I am @marchalpert

Optimists meet! Hope abounds!

Can you imagine such a newspaper headline?
Or a talking head on TV saying "Optimists meet! Hope abounds! News at 11."

Well, it indeed happened last night, at a social event held by the Optimists' Tribe, in which a diverse group put names to faces and verbal promises of deeds to accomplish in 2009 that will make world just a little better place.

Sixteen quality people met, each with a view of the present and the future as bright and hopeful, in the spirit of social cause networking.

Join us on the website. It's free, or if you care to make a contribution that's cool too.

Optimism and how to get more of it!

It's easy to be cynical or even downright pessimistic if you read the news: religious leader and mayors arrested for corruption, etc. etc.

I am not advocating suspending your newspapers subscriptions.

But I am suggesting finding optimistic open-minded people to mingle with and enjoy their energy. I am lucky I get to do this a lot.

Today I joined a new green business group sponsored by the local award-winning SCORE chapter. There were so many intelligent and sustainable business ideas in one room!

On Monday I am attending a social gathering of the Optimists' Tribe, a newly formed group that revels in an optimistic view of the present and the future. I am looking forward to an infectious evening of new contacts and positive friends.

I will report back soon.
Optimistically,
Marc

Would you like to save $4000 a year?

It pains me to meet a nonprofit to find out that their credit card rates and other online donor services are so out of the market that they could realize savings of $4000 a year, that's a 50% savings! It happened again last week in Stamford.

Not that they are foolish or asleep at the wheel; on the contrary. It's just that my trained and objective eye can find new ways to give them the same functionality (actually better!) for less.

Once a controller came up to me after a presentation meeting at which I won their business and said, "You don't realize what you've just done-you saved us enough money to take one of our staffers and make her a full time employee."

Now that's good for the employee and for the organization. And it makes me feel good too, that I am able to help out in a new way.

What can we do for you?