Welcome to the latest issue of Write for You News & Notes (the combined July & August issue) with some words of wisdom on writing, business, and life. If you'd like to share any books or favorite links with our readers, send us an email. And remember -- on paper or on-line, when you need words that work for you, I can write for you! Nancy Passow
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The Best Laid Plans
| If you haven't subscribed yet to business and life coach Michael Bungay Stanier's Great Work Provocations, you must! He describes it as "Like a shot of espresso, but healthier". It comes out daily (although you can choose to get it two or three times per week instead of five). Which leads to one I got this week:
"Think back five years. Impossible to have foreseen where you are know and what's going on.
I hope you're not taking your plans too seriously . . . "
Yes -- that is my kind of message. Back in the day when I was interviewing for corporate jobs they always asked you "Where do you see yourself in 5 years (or 10 years)?" And my response would be, "I don't really plan ahead like that, I look for opportunities as they come." (Amazingly the company to whom I responded that way was desperate for me to work for them, I turned them down.) Planning is great -- but remembering to be flexible and go with what happens is even better.
So go sign-up and receive these very thought-provoking posts.
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| Be Right or Be Loved | |
Recently I was at one of my favorite stores where they were celebrating the July birthdays of customers (yes, I'm a Leo). One of the saleswomen said her mom was a Leo and the other saleswoman said her boyfriend was a Leo. After admitting to many of the Leo attributes -- fiery, pushy, regal -- and agreeing they weren't all positive. I said I was working hard to control many of them. And then I shared with the young woman whose mom is a Leo something Rabbi Debra (the rabbi at my synagogue) spoke about. She asked "would you rather be right or be loved?"
Now, Rabbi Debra wasn't suggesting that you should be a pushover. But, do you always have to be right and have the last word? Even if it means upsetting or alienating someone you love (or at least like)? It could be a spouse, a child, or a friend. Or it could be your boss, your employee, or even a client. Is it a life or death situation? Will it matter in an hour, a day, a month, or a year? Sometimes it's so much better to bite your tongue, swallow that response, and keep that relationship.
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LinkedIn and More
|  September is coming -- end of the summer, start of the school year, for some of us it is the New Year. What better time to update your LinkedIn profile. There are new ways to showcase your business, your services, and information about you. Not sure what to do or how to do it? Send me an e-mail -- I'll give your profile a quick look and make some suggestions on how we can make it even better. Don't forget e-mail marketing. I can help you get started -- whether it's set-up, writing the content, or managing the entire process. I'll even remember to pay the monthly bill for you. I can set up your contact lists, help you choose a template (and customize it with your logo and website colors), and develop your e-mail schedule. To learn more, click here. Why use Constant Contact? They take care of the details--managing your contact list, making sure you meet anti-spam regulations, tracking users--these are just a few of the reasons. Give me a call or send me an e-mail so we can talk about how e-mail marketing can help your business! |
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phone: 201-541-9702 (o)
phone: 201-362-3404 (m)
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Book of the Month . . Summer Reading, Part 2
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Here are a few more books I forgot to share last month -- and a report on the new Donna Andrews book.
Hen of the Baskervilleswas a delight -- fun, entertaining, very well-written, and I learned about "heritage" animals. These are hens, mules, sheep, and other animals that used to be more common and have wonderful attributes that should be preserved.
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Hen at Kidwell Farm, Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon, VA
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Two books by Sarah Jio, which I've already read, make good summertime reading:
The Violets of March and Blackberry Winter: A Novel. Both take place in the Seattle area; I picked up the first one because it's set on Bainbridge Island, the last place my husband and I visit when we go to Seattle.
Some other books I've picked up to read are: an oldie but goodie which I never read,
The Group by Mary McCarthy;Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (also set in Seattle); and Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures by Emma Straub (this is one that Barnes & Noble recommended to me so I figured, why not.)
I'll report back once they're read.
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| Quote of the Month | |
"Hunger is not an issue of charity. It is an issue of justice." -- Jacques Diouf
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