Learning/Socialising Event for Non-Geek Bloggers

OK so who else, apart from Chris Owen, is interested in a non-geek learning/socialising event for small business bloggers?

Chris’ post yesterday has sparked some comments and conversations around the traps and now she has dared me to do something about an event (that might be conference like but probably more like an interesting learning / socialising / networking environment) that is targetted more at the small business owner that happens to blog rather than the full-on geeky blogger.

If there is some interest then I might just be tempted to start the ball rolling and pull together something together.  Probably Sydney or Melbourne.  And not before June (it can take some time to get these things together).

Let me know if you are interested and what you might like to see included.  Here’s what Chris wants.

Conference Envy

Chris Owen, my very good friend and chief pink-people-connector at Pink Apple, has a very strong case of conference envy. She says that she loves being in Australia but at times wants to be closer to North America and Europe for the ease of access to conferences.

But there are times when you wish you were a little bit closer to the action! It’s a bloody long and expensive flight to the US or Europe.

My disappointment ands yearning has been prompted this time because if I’d been able I would be attending a blogging conference called SOBCon 07.

I started to write a comment on her post and decided that after 3 paragraphs that it was too long for a comment and decided to post it here and trackback to her instead. The other reason that I decided to put it here is because I feel that Chris is not alone (feel free to tell me whether I am right or wrong).

So here is my open answer to Chris (and to anyone else that is listening/reading).

Chris, Darren has loads of great contacts but I would imagine that his time is caught up in speaking at many of these conferences, running his business and having a life. So why not look at getting a few mates together and arrange a space/time yourself (much like Phil and crew have done).

I believe that this conference has come out of Liz Strauss’ open mic night on the SuccessfulBlog and from months developing a strong network of good contacts (I’m not 100% sure on this and would love to here from one of the main organisers for [tag]SOBCon 07[/tag] with more details). And now they are going to get together in person and invite other people along for the ride.

There are so many great [tag]bloggers[/tag] here in Australia that we don’t connect with and that would be able to deliver the same content, and possibly more. [tag]Des Walsh[/tag] comes to mind immediately.

What is it that you would be looking for in this conference Chris? Information? Connection? What would a conference like this do for you? (yeah I know too many questions)

There are a variety of conferences and meetings held in [tag]Australia[/tag] that bloggers go to at the moment but I suspect that many of these are targetted to the high-end (the geeks, full-time, already now a lot crowd). I suspect what you are looking for Chris is something targetted at the regular business owner that wants to know more about how to be a better blogger. Yes? No?

If someone else organised this (eg. if I could be tempted) how much interest is there really?

The huge North American or European conferences would be great but right here in our own backyard we have the experience and wisdom to satisfy even the more ardent business blogger.

[tags]conference, Darren Rowse, Phil Gerbyshak, Chris Owen[/tags]

There is no “perfect” in nature

If perfection doesn’t exist in nature then who are you (or I)  to think that you can master that artform?

Small business suffers through a commitment to perfection.  The business doesn’t get better, it just gets more clogged (nothing that a good dose of prunes wouldn’t fix).   This theme of perfection versus production has been a consistent point of discussion for a number of my clients, colleagues and friends over the past few months (you know who you are).  What is it with January and February that causes a case of persistent perfectionism?

If you  are looking for an antedote to your perfectionism then my favourite Arizonian, Pam Slim, is dealing with the shift from “perfect to good enough” in the most recent edition of her Escape Podcast.

Well what are you doing still hanging around here?  Head over a grab a dose of Pam wisdom.

How To Break the Sterotypical Molds

Mold-breaking! That’s my new job description. Actually it has been one of my life-long missions.

Why try and fit into a box when there is far more space outside it?

Many of you will have you own molds that you will have come from or even be trying to fit. Now you may say “Oh no, not me” but I would challenge that every time you try a new “easy ways to succeed in business” program or buy that “10 ways to a new you” book you are actually trying to fit into a mold. The mold is the way of working that worked for someone else (sometimes it didn’t actually even work for them but they are just writing/talking about it).

There may be things that you can learn from the way others did it but it is still their way. And the same goes for what has worked for you in the past. The past is past and just because it worked then doesn’t mean it won’t now. Even if all other things are equal you are a different person today than you were then.

I comes across small business women (and men but to a lesser extent) that like in a mold that says “I’m no good at technical things so I will never learn this computer stuff”. That may have been so in the past, but why now? Maybe it was a lack of time, information or not having the write teacher that contributed to a lack of confidence and understanding about technology. Technology is just like language, if you learn the basics, hang out with people that speak the language and use it regularly then you will become proficient at it – over time.

You don’t need to buy into the stereotypes about what it is to be technically confident (and competant). Those of us who are fluent in technology are far from fitting into the “geeky guy” mold. (I have been battling this stereotype since the mid 80s when I was a 20-something girl and after 20 years I still haven’t turned into one).

And this afternoon I came across another mold-breaker in the technology world. Sister Judith , editorial director of the Holy See, runs the team that builds the Vatican’s Website. As you can see she looks nothing like the stereotypical Internet manager.

This image is from a wonderful 25 minute interview that Robert Scoble did with her at the recent LIFT conference in Geneva. If you are looking for some inspiration to break out of your mold, or just an interesting insight into how the Vatican’s Internet manager approaches technology then checkout the Podtech.net interview.

You know what happens when you stay in your mold? You get moldy

Research says Working Women Need Company

The number of women starting their own businesses continues to grow. In my book that is great news!

But one of the most negative things I hear when speaking with female friends, clients and colleagues who work for themselves is “I don’t know if I am cut out to work by myself. I feel so isolated.”

Research by Dr. Rachel Morrison from Auckland University of Technology has found women may be influenced to leave their jobs based on a lack of friendships and that women place more value on work friendships than men do.

“Friendships have different functions for men and women at work. Women perhaps expect to form close bonds in the workplace and view this as a necessary aspect of work, whereas for men it’s just a bonus.”

This is significant insights for corporate worplace managers, but what about for the solo woman business owner?

I would suggest that this research points to some even greater impacts in the workplace where the solopreneur has little or no workplace friendships or contact. When women step out on their own they consider many factors that contribute to the success of their business. Unfortunately for many it is only after months of working “head down, bum up” to achieve their goals that they stop to take a breathe a realise that work has become very lonely.

Is it time to stop working the same way as the guys and find a way of solo working that provides both independence and connection?

As an aside – I would be curious if men feel the isolation as well and whether you need the worplace friendships as well.

I know that I can’t change things for everyone but I am willing to take one small step for me and my local clients and colleagues.

So – on the first Monday of each month my home office will be an open house for other solo business women to come and work, connect, share and communicate. I will provide broadband access to for your laptop (if required), a fully stocked kitchen and a great environment in which to spend one day during the month getting some connection with others in the same space.

I am located not far from the international airport in the St George area of Sydney. The space is a good size but I would image that at best it will handle 5 women.

I don’t yet know what to call this little gathering but that will uncover itself.

If you are interested in being here on Monday 6th 5th March then just drop me an email to leah.maclean@gmail.com and I will give you more details.

Dr. Morrison’s research was presented at last year’s Australian Psychological Society and ew Zealand Psychological Society joint conference, ‘Psychology Bridging the Tasman: Science, culture and practice’ held in Auckland, New Zealand.

It’s not just me – Googe?

Just went to do a search on google.com.au and thought the nice graphic in honour of Valentine’s Day was missing something. Yep – it’s missing its “L”. Initially I thought it was just the Google guys in Australia but apparantly its global.

Either chocolate covered strawberries takes away your ability to spell or it is an interesting piece of new branding.

Remodelling Your Home Office? Google SketchUp

Before you start lugging furniture around to create or change your [tag]home office[/tag] then you might want to [tag]sketch[/tag] up the space and see how things look, or see if everything fits.

You can get the paper, rulers and pencils out, or that version of [tag]AutoCAD[/tag] that you been looking for a good reason to use <g> or you can use the [tag]Google SketchUp[/tag].

Words can’t describe how handy this is, as well its ability to morf time (where did the last 2 hours go?)

Extra Security for Your PayPal Account

If you have a PayPal account then there is now a new “must have” security option called the Payal Security Key.

It is a small electronic device that creates a unique security code every 30 seconds which is required, along with your username and password, to log-in to your PayPal account. This means that if someone does somehow get a hold of your access details they will still be blocked by needing that latest code from your security key.

If you have a business account with PayPal then the key is free. If you have a personal ccount then the key is USD$5 – extremely good value for something as valuable as your PayPal account.

Carnival of Entrepreneurs – 9th Edition Hits the Road

This week’s [tag]Carnival of Entrepreneurs[/tag] has been wonderfully hosted this week by Laura Young at The Dragon Slayer’s Guide to Life (WOW what a blog title).

It is an edition overflowing with great articles (and I am not just saying that because Laura highlighted my very tardy entery front and centre).

I particularly like Startup Princess’s question about the Top 10 Reasons why your startup is cool (good question and fun to answer).

Get over and have a look. I am sure that one of the 37 article will strike a cord for you. Consider it your personalised weekly small business magazine. Enjoy!

Wordpress Tip – Enabling The Visual Text Editor

With the upgrade to Wordpress 2.1 there has been a little confusion by some users about the disappearance of the visual text editor.

It used to look like this :

But now looks a little more like this :

Yuk!

To have the option change plain text editor and visual/WYSIWYG mode all you meed to do is :

1. Go to Users on the main menu
2. Click on Your Profile int he sub menu
3. Check the box for “Use visual editor when writing”

There you go all fixed! (Especially for Pete)

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