Category: Essays

Blogging for a Living:
Marketing Blogmeister Stephen Smith Takes the Leap

Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith

I discovered Stephen thru the InContext blog. He was quite excited about quitting his management position to return to blogging and consulting full time. Many of us consider this option but few take the leap. This interview is about his strategy, plans for the future, and attitude. Stephen’s bio is at the end of the article.

Dawn Groves: You have a lot of irons in the fire. Would you list your blogs/websites/online profiles?

Stephen Smith: Sure, it’s actually very easy, I’ve created a hub-page at http://stephenpsmith.com/ where you can see everything I’m up to: Twitter, the blogs, Facebook, Delicious, the whole enchilada.

You have a cool tag line concept: business development through personal development.

Business Development through Personal Development means you can use productivity principles to enhance your ability to lead, manage, and execute the functions of your business. By becoming more disciplined and focused you can improve everything – make more products, improve service, create more sales, even make more money.

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Writing My Blog While The World Suffers

news websiteI’m sitting in Starbucks attempting to update my blog. How can I possibly think about adding to the Making Excuses series while the world continually teeters on the brink of collapse? I take a sip of coffee and try again.

Nope, can’t do it.

Writing helps me make sense of things. So on my third effort, I write about galvanizing a heartfelt, proper response to a disaster halfway across the world, without simultaneously devaluing my own modest efforts and personal concerns.

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Business Meetings with a Big Ugly Scratch Down Your Face

scratch

ouch

My dog used my face to launch off the bed this morning. Nigel weighs about 55 pounds. He was chasing the cat.

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2011: Jump Start Simple

Oh No I blew it!Make Your Resolutions Stick

January and February are the traditional months for hauling out your New Year’s resolutions complete with built-in self destruct sequences. The yearly Lose-Ten-Lbs, Exercise-Daily, or Stop-Being-Late goals may be sincere and well executed, but they’re doomed to fail as soon as you become anxious or overwhelmed.

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3-Minute Focus Time: #1, Begin With the End In Mind

Hi, this is a 5-podcast series I did in 2009 for NaNoWriMo writers. They’re 3-minute targeted pieces to help with writing almost anything, from proposals to novels. Click the link, then sit quietly and listen for 3 minutes. Enjoy!

How you approach your writing session is often how you experience it. Change your approach and see what happens.

LISTEN

Next 2: Word Flow