Good morning . . .
After a two month layoff, we are back to provide you more random topics to help you combat writers block. Was it an extended continent hopping vacation? A life threatening illness? Were we kidnapped by Somali pirates? Nope, we just forgot who we assigned to do the work all this time. And apparently, so did they . . .
Do us a favor and let us know if any of our latest topics actually inspired an article or blog post. A link so that we can marvel at your handy work inspired by us would be kind of cool too.
Anyway, here come some topic starters:
Making Time For What Is important: There is a guy in the office who is setting up his schedule so that he can get his workouts in. Why are we betting against him? His workouts are scheduled for 3AM. What extremes have you had to go through to fit the important things into your schedule? Make sure you tell the readers if your efforts were successful or not . . .
Are You Ready For Some Football?: We know that saying will no longer be valid, but here in the United States, the NFL season is in full swing, after a summer of worry with a lock out of the players by the owners. Are you a fan? Tell your readers what you love and hate about American football . . .
Are You Ready For No Basketball?: By the same token, no one is expecting the NBA to tip off its season in a few week. Similar situation as for football with issues between the owners and the players. A whole new level of animosity between the two. Most of the players that need a paycheck have already signed contracts with other teams overseas, and now many of the stars are looking to make similar deals to keep their skills sharp and their brands marketable. Are you a fan of this? Tell your readers about the impact a lack of American basketball this year may or may not have on your life . . .
More to come . . .
Good afternoon . . .
Can I get a do over today? Can I get a reset back to the middle of Saturday afternoon? This week has gotten off to a horrible start for me, with no real relief in sight. It will probably let up by the weekend. Maybe. This is a week where it is defiantly true that what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger, I hope . . .
Do us a favor and let us know if any of our latest topics actually inspired an article or blog post. A link so that we can marvel at your handy work inspired by us would be kind of cool too.
Anyway, here come some topic starters:
Average Time To Write Articles: One of the few barriers to blogging is finding the time to write the blog posts. Some bloggers tout systems to allow them to crank out an articles or post in about 20 minutes, other will tell you how they agonize for at least 90 minutes on a first draft. IF you are posting regularly, getting consistent in the time it takes to complete a post is key to the speed of the process. Tell your readers how long it takes you to get your articles from concept to blog post, and how many obstacles are a normal part of the process . . .
The People Who Are Holding You Back: There are plenty of people who do not want you to succeed. But they are not necessarily the same people who are holding you back. Some of the people who should have your best interests at heart are actually the keys to your continued failure. Some are bringing you down unconsciously, some are deliberately sabotaging you while smiling to your face as they give you praise for what little success they haven’t had a chance to ruin yet. Tell your readers how you spot you detractors and what you can do to separate yourself from their destructive ways. And if you are one of the lucky ones who can spin a detractor to an actual asset, how you make that work . . .
Too Many Coaches: There is an abundance for information on how to success in just about anything. Some of them will cost you a few buck. Some are free, with various strings attached. Assuming that the materials in the course are sound, all you have to do is follow instructions, and you’ll see progress. What you can’t do is follow the instructions of too many coaches working from different points of view and points of progress at the same time. I know I am a junkie for picking up new email newsletters on info to the point of an always full inbox. I know you want to sell your readers on sticking with you and your information courses, but giving them tips on how to wean themselves off of so many sources will help get them to focus on you . . .
More to come . . .
Good afternoon . . .
The week with my grandmother visiting is quickly coming to a close. There is definitely a different perspective from spending a week at her house when you are 7-years-old and her spending a week at your house when you at 37-years-old. And while the words used in conversation have gotten far more advanced in these 30 years, the conversations themselves are just as special now as they were way back then . . .
Do us a favor and let us know if any of our latest topics actually inspired an article or blog post. A link so that we can marvel at your handy work inspired by us would be kind of cool too.
Anyway, here come some topic starters:
Stalling In Your Writing: Is there too much filler in your writing? Is there not enough filler in your writing? One of the obstacles I have to completing some of my writing is that I have a true hatred of literary filler that I see in books I read, but my personal manuscripts don’t seem to have a enough ‘weight’ to them. But there is an art to building up an issue before presenting the big finish, one I am obviously still mastering. Are you an expert at stalling in your writing for effect? Or does the stalling you do in your writing affect the outcome? Your tips and perspective could help your readers work out their issues with writing filler . . .
Ambition: Ambition is an interesting thing. Sometimes the people with the most ambition are the people least likely to succeed. They just want to be successful but don’t have the tools to make it work. And on the flipside, the people who should have more ambition just don’t. Some of them are content to just be, some are just to scared to see all that they can’t be. Tell your readers about how you see your ambition, and if you have any tips on how to ad focus to ambition to make the whole thing work . . .
Elaborating: Very similar to the fine art of recycling material, use your writing to teach your readers about the virtues of taking a written piece from the past and expanding on one particular note of interest from it. For example, if the former writing was based on a numbered list, pick one of the items listed and flesh out a full article to elaborate the importance or the frivolity of that listed item in terms of the full list, or maybe even in some new context. Don’t shy away from giving a brief description of the source material for reference, and if it is posted on the web, don’t forget to offer a link back to the original for some renewed page views . . .
More to come . . .
Good evening . . .
Tonight, we’re going to try a little something different for your listing of random topics. We’re going to work a theme. Not sure how often we’ll be themin’ it, but we think it will be fun. Tonight theme for your random topics is ‘stuff . . . ’
Do us a favor and let us know if any of our latest topics actually inspired an article or blog post. A link so that we can marvel at your handy work inspired by us would be kind of cool too.
Anyway, here come some topic starters:
The Distraction Of Stuff: I get some of my best work done when I am out of my office, because my office is in my home, and my home is home to all my stuff. All my stuff that calls me to pay attention to it, and not to the work I want to give my full attention to. Do you have a similar relationship with the stuff that you own? Do you have a better way to manage your distractions other that removing yourself from the distractions?
The Trappings Of Stuff: My other love/hate issue with stuff is all the time, effort and money it takes to maintain the stuff. My car needs fuel and insurance. My computers need upgrades and add-ons. My house is badly in need of a good dusting, which I may get to after the dishes and laundry are done. And has anyone fed the dogs, cats, or goldfish? There is a price to pay for all the stuff we own that if we are not careful, will turn us into slave to our stuff, especially if you have pets. How do you fend off the trappings of your personal belongings?
The Joys Of Stuff: Your favorite sweater. That book that you waited in line for two hours to get signed by your favorite author. The car that you and your father rebuilt the engine for. This is about the good stuff. The stuff that triggers emotions. Maybe they do bring occasional tears, but the joy is overwhelming. What are some of the things that you just can’t bear to part with because of the emotional ties?
More to come . . .
Good afternoon . . .
I had a very distracted phone conversation with my grandmother last night as we were both paying more attention to the Atlanta Braves–Pittsburg Pirates baseball game on television. Not that anything was actually going on in what would turn into a 19-inning affair lasting more that 6 hours. Of course, the next morning, it was a good after-the-fact reminder lesson on where my priorities should lie. Or at least a reason to remember to stop calling my grandmother when the Braves are playing . . .
Do us a favor and let us know if any of our latest topics actually inspired an article or blog post. A link so that we can marvel at your handy work inspired by us would be kind of cool too.
Anyway, here come some topic starters:
Famous Quotations: I like famous quotations, and I like getting famous quotations from various people who send them regularly. I am not a fan of the Facebook/Twitter phenomena of people sending out famous quotations at random intervals from their personal accounts, even if I have been guilty of this on more than one occasion. But a great blog post is one that details how a particular quote from a particular person of note, either dead or alive, has influenced your life. Just be warned, if you’re the type of person prone to shot gunning a barrage of these type of post in your blogs too often and way too close together, you’re going to lose me as a subscriber . . .
Bible Verses: Similar logic as above, unless you happed to be a clergy member. Then you can send all the bible verses that you like. Send out how the verses are supposed to inspire us or teach us a lesson we may be reluctant to learn. And a regular dose of debunking some of the more famous Bible misquotes will make us all a little smarter, and help those of us making that walk with Christ gain a little more strength . . .
Quotes: This time, I’m not talking about quotable saying but actual quotes from people, hopefully alive, from news stories and current events. Sure, you could tell and audience about what a politician said that was on point, poignant, impolite, or even pretty stupid. Or, you could step up your commentary gamer as use their own words to support their case or completely tear it down . . .
More to come . . .
Good afternoon . . .
We are one week shy of tearing off another month from our 2011 calendars. We have gone just past the halfway mark of the year. What do you have to show for it? We might not have much, but we do have this blog that you happen to be reading . . .
Do us a favor and let us know if any of our latest topics actually inspired an article or blog post. A link so that we can marvel at your handy work inspired by us would be kind of cool too.
Anyway, here come some topic starters:
Setup, Teardown, & Maintenance: How much of your average workday in wrapped up in setting up to start your day, tearing down to finish your day, or routine (or not so routine) maintenance of processes and equipment in preparation to do something. It amaze me how much of my daily productivity is a direct result of constant maintaining of systems and not so much actually producing anything. Share with you readers some of the struggles you have with the preparation aspect of your work, but how without proper preparation, no work would ever get done . . .
Amy Winehouse: I didn’t think I was going to drop in many current event ideas for this blog, but some stories are just too large and too easy to draw some inspiration. That being said, I’ve come across more than a few horrible stories that have used the death of singer Amy Winehouse as a hook, including one on what your small business can learn from her death. If you so write on current events or need a little link bait, you can choose a quick article on Winehouse that is hopefully tasteful, or you could go with . . .
Are You Ready For Some Football: Looks like the NFL deal will be signed off soon. Now we can get back to important matters, like the New Orleans Saints making their second march to claim a Super Bowl Championship. And maybe some talk about the other 31 teams, although they are just set up as foils for the Saints . . .
More to come . . .
Good morning,
This ‘Random Topics’ blog is hailed as a possible cure for writer’s block. This week, what I really needed was a possible cure for flu like symptoms. We’ve had a summer bug go around, and there is noting more uncomfortable than mixing oppressive temperatures outside with the raging temperature from the fever in your head. None the less, here we go . . .
Do us a favor and let us know if any of our latest topics actually inspired an article or blog post. A link so that we can marvel at your handy work inspired by us would be kind of cool too.
Anyway, here come some topic starters:
Getting Sick: This week, I got really sick. So sick, that I could not even work. It kept me for working on this blog, any other blogs, and the actual work that pays my bills. Even though it is summer, it’s never a bad time to remind people of the dangers of working with real live people as germ incubators. Talk about preventing illnesses, dealing with the illnesses you could not prevent, and putting yourself out of the daily grind if you know you are sick . . .
Depression: Depression is an issue that most people have to deal with at some point of their lives. Everyone has bouts where they are down in the dumps and could use a few pick-me-up tips as reminders of how things are great most of the time. And many of us know someone who suffers from some form of a clinical depression, or may possibly be cursed to live through depression themselves. Personal insights, success stories, and the occasional story that does not show success with handling depression is helpful for your readers, and could count as a cheap therapy for yourself . . .
Email Overload: Obviously not as dire as the first to suggested random topics, but being flooded by an out-of-control email inbox can be just as devastating. And you don’t have to be a master of inbox zero . . .
More to come . . .
Good morning,
Upon further review, this ‘Random Topics’ blog is going for a modification of the posting schedule. The rather ambitious six-days-a-week proved to be, well, rather ambitions of us. Because, deep down, we know we are a little lazy. Okay, deep down we know we are a lot lazy, but it was more of a ‘other duties as assigned’ getting in the way of ridding the world of writer’s block . . .
Do us a favor and let us know if any of our latest topics actually inspired an article or blog post. A link so that we can marvel at your handy work inspired by us would be kind of cool too.
Anyway, here come some topic starters:
Colors: Yes colors, like red, green, and blue. Designers can write about the use of color, and anybody can write about their favorite or least favorite colors . . .
The Grammar Of Spammers: What is up with that? You would think that people who spam would try to use language that was coherent. But they don’t, and they don’t have to. Spam is annoying, but it is profitable . . .
How To Launch A Product: Are you a veteran internet marketer? I know I have seen an influx of new marketers, and more annoyingly, new launches of the best versions of various products ever. While I don’t doubt the potential of some of their products, I am quickly growing annoyed with hearing each person’s ‘hero’s journey’ and get more and more skeptical of the background of each new individual. If you are a veteran internet marketer, could you please help some of the newbies. The newer batches seem to be getting the wrong advice, and in turn are spreading the wrong advice . . .
More to come . . .
Good morning,
This ‘Random Topics’ blog is celebrating three weeks of life as a concept in my head, about 17 day of actual time on the clock as a blog. And while three weeks may not seem like much time in the life of a business idea, it’s the equivalent of getting a child past learning to walk and on to potty training in the world of blogging, since most blogs get scraped in less than a week. We don’t need a celebration, but we do need your feedback . . .
Do us a favor and let us know if any of our latest topics actually inspired an article or blog post. A link so that we can marvel at your handy work inspired by us would be kinda cool too.
Anyway, here come some topic starters:
Copying Your Competitors: If you have any type of business completion, you ware probably very aware of the difference in their approach to business to yours. And you are bound to find a few things that they are doing that are out doing you. Are they doing it better, and should you be doing it the same way? The answer to that question is complicated, but not necessarily a resounding ‘yes.’ Give your readers your opinion on the concept, and maybe a few examples where you chose to mimic the completion, along with examples where you chose not to mimic the completion . . .
Giving It Way For Free: It’s your content and it should be worth something. But you’re putting it on the internet, and everything on the internet should be as close to free as possible, right? Sometimes it really is a matter of getting what you pay for, and what you want to give may seem more viable if you put a modest price on it. Or, you can draw people into a large order with breadcrumbs from free offers. Take a stance on what you think works best and let your readers know . . .
Sustainability: Explain some of the problems you have with sustaining and effort. Or just give a listing of tips you have to help others with sustainability . . .
More to come . . .
Good morning,
So much for random topics daily. We are still testing out how to make this page and this service work properly for you (and profitably for us) so we had an longer than expect review of out whole game plan. Yes, it took us a whole week later to get back to work, but we’ll get better. We promise . . .
Do us a favor and let us know if any of our latest topics actually inspired an article or blog post. A link so that we can marvel at your handy work inspired by us would be kinda cool too.
Anyway, here come some topic starters:
Getting Out Of A Vacuum: At this point, it doesn’t matter how you got there or how long it’s been since you got there. If the there is working in a vacuum of information with little to no contact with other human beings, its time to find a way out right now. From virtual consulting, bringing in some human partners to work with, or just taking a walk outside where people might happen to be, you can write about how people can learn to open up their world to let others in to collaborate, and possible keep themselves sane . . .
Pictures: A picture is worth a thousand words because it can quickly and easily convey a message, but if you’re in need of some inspiration for your writing, taking a picture and trying to describe it in words may be the perfect remedy, whether you are shooting for a thousand or some number a little less daunting. Don’t have any awe inspiring pictures of your own? I suggest checking out some past weeks from The Consumerist Blog’s Friday Flickr Finds . . .
The Magic Of Recycling Content: Why struggle with coming up with a fresh, new idea when you can reach into the unemptied digital wastebasket that is your computer hard drive and pull out some throwaway scribble idea from a while back? A fresh perspective an a little editing and retooling time, and that idea that sounded great in your head way back when that didn’t read so great when you originally gave on it shot has a real shot of greatness this time around. Or not, but it gives you something to work on, and hopefully workout some creative kinks . . .
More to come . . .
