Hey, I'm a visual artist, not a writer. If anyone told me I'd be writing for a living a few short years ago, I would have seriously questioned their sanity. Sure I could write term papers. Every good student can do that. But professional writing is something entirely different. Surprise! The more articles I write, the more "expression" happens. The more expressive your writing becomes, the easier it will flow out of you. That's why people here encourage you to write like you speak, bec

One of the features that turns me off, more than anything else, when I visit a website, is not being provided a telephone contact number. I don't want to write email. I want to talk to a human and have my questions answered by a person on the telephone. No human to answer my questions? OK.  I won't place my order. If the person is not available, then they have to call me back. Even phone communication is a stretch for me, but it'll do in that we are living in an automated age. I like worki

It's on days like this that I'm glad I meditate. Through a rabbit hole all day long. I like to think that I am a  moderately reasonable person most of the time. I can put one foot in front of the other and take determined, thoughtful mini steps in a straight ahead direction, all while pulling a few stubborn weeds on my garden path, and chewing gum too, while greeting people with a smile and a hand shake. I get good ideas that are connected to one another in an orderly  fashion, like a

This has nothing to do with IM, but so fantastic, I had to share it with you. If you feel you have earned the right to take a little break from marketing, and you want to be inspired and reduced to tears, then please click. The performance continues through several songs. Don't miss anything. I love it when these things come along. Enjoy!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnOczKJ6LDk  Click his Ave Maria and Hallelujah videos in youtube. The continuous performance link didn't work for s

"If you can keep your head when all about you..." Do you remember "If", poem by Rudyard Kipling? That poem has had such a profound influence on me from very long ago, when I was just a small girl. I even have a teddy bear from childhood that I called "If". He's a little worn and tired right now, but he's a reminder. I'll keep him forever. That poem sums it up quite well. It describes an ideal state of being: "the evolved human", with qualities of wisdom,

 Social Media is a powerful tool? Okay, so how do you use it? I've been hearing how important Twitter is for IM. The short time I spent tweeting, year or so ago, I had a ball, but I couldn't see the sense of it.   If you're like me, read this piece. Could very well launch you on your Twitter career. Involves a lot of tweeting to get the message across. Good thing we all like to communicate.   http://ittybiz.com/how-to-get-twitter-followers/  

So tired of being manipulated. How about you? Louise's blog yesterday really moved me. She got me thinking too. Her blog was a beautiful, ingenuous outpouring of her affection for her American friends. Thank you Louise. Your sentiments are mutual. I sincerely value all the fine things I have learned about you here at WA. You are special indeed. Your "questioning" is shared by your American friends. Freedom of expression, recognition of the individual's rights, are why the experiment c

Don't you just love being predictable? Hey, am I really like this? Found it particularly interesting when researchers said that once the basic material needs were met, people are motivated by things other than money. The "creative" need reminds me of all of us here.  Purpose. Well corporate world, listen up! Here's something that will fascinate you from Daniel Pink. The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us   Fun to watch!   

Proud to be an American! Time to celebrate the USA! Happy Birthday America! She really needs a good birthday party this year. She's not getting any younger, and she's had a few headaches. So, let's think well about her and give her a bountiful picnic, at least. She deserves it, and so do we.

You're a butterfly about to emerge from a cocoon.  Don't stop now. The show is about to begin. Remember when you started? Terrifying, wasn't it? See how far you've come? Think about  how much more you will know next year. You don't realize how much you are learning. Remember, you are creating something fantastic: your future, your family's future. You have the opportunity to inspire others. You can reach the world with a message of hope and light. Now, what is better than that? Sure yo