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When you are not making the most of your potential then you are allowing others to set the standards for you. You should not allow your critics or competitors to determine the standards that you set for youreslf.

As a martial artist of thirty years I am still always striving for exellence in my forms and techniques and am applying this concept to my blog.

Psychology professor Jon Johnson points out the difference between mere success and excellence: “Success bases our worth on a comparison with others; excellence measures against our own potential. Success grants its rewards to the few but is the dream of the multitudes. Excellence is available to all living beings, but is accepted only by the few.”

What steps are you taking to improve your strive for excellence with your blog?

Nicholas Z. Cardot is an inspiration in the making. He is the author of Site Sketch 101. This is a site that I whole heartedly recommend that you subcribe too. Site Sketch 101 has a wealth of information that you can take away with you and apply immediately. What I like about Nicholas is his genuine desire to connect with you and to help you succeed in your blogging endeavours. The growing community of Site Sketch 101 is an awesome community and one that I am proud to be a part of.

Here are ten reasons why Site Sketch 101 is one of my all time favorite sites to be subcribing too.

1. Site Sketch 101 is easy to navigate.
2. The articles are clear concise and to the point.
3. You can truly be yourself on Site Sketch 101.
4. There are great blogging tips.
5. You receive great feedback from the Site Sketch 101 community.
6. Nicholas Z. Cardot speaks from the heart.
7. Great SEO tips & tricks for your WordPress Blog.
8. Site Sketch 101 content is unique.
9. Sence of belonging in this community.
10. Site Sketch 101 over delivers.

 If you have been inspired by a great blog and would love to spread the word about it then leave a comment in the comments.

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Yes here I am again with this dreaded writers block. It seems just as you find your on a flow this thing called writers block steps in and holts your progress.

I am now finding that if I want to get back into the flow of writing I am just going to have to adopt the concept of the warrior and the pen or as the Nike logo would say Just Do It!

I suppose when I look back and analyze this thing called writers block it is an accumulation of my own imaginary fear’s of failure and the perception of having to be perfect every time I make an attempt to create new content for a new post or article.

Time now to follow my own advice and apply some straggic measures to over come this writers block.

1) Do 20mins of Tai Chi and resume writing.

2) Go for at least an hours walk around the block.

3) Listen to an inspirational sound track.

4) Watch an inspirational DVD.

5) Go make a cake !!!

6) Go wash the car.

7) Get egg timer out and set for 20 mins while writing. Only answer phone when 20 mins is up.

Have a reminder on the wall that say’s “No body is perfect”.

Know for my next article.

Can Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace Teach You

How to Write?

The answer is a big resounding yes.

Joanna Young of Confidentwriting.com say’s, Experiment with your writing until you recognise your own voice.

Because of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace I am know learning how to write again and am enjoying the journey in the process.

Facebook allows you to connect with friends and family anytime of the day and  in written form thus is a tool for enhancing your writing skills.

Twitter is a service for friends and family to stay connected through the exchange of quick and frequent messages. Again this is another tool for the improvement of writing.

MySpace is the most popular social networking site, at least at the moment. Still said a great tool for improving your writing.

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If You Ask Me…

Bethune Matthews has been a Millinery teacher for over 10years and uses Millinery as a way of teaching, empowering and building amazing relationships. She lives in England.

Who has influenced you the most ?

My mom and my children.

Which professional Milliner has been of great influence to you ?

Phillip Treacy.

Q. How would you run a Millinery school here in England?

A. I would provide 1 to 5 day work shops delivering the art of Millinery techniques.

Q. What one thing would make your life better ?

A. Freedom.

Q. What event most changed your life ?

A. My house fire because I could have lost my children. It was a big eye opener.

Q. What would you ban if you could ?

A. Alcohol.

Q. What is your greatest achievement ?

A. Running a marathon.

Q. What makes you happy?

A. Meeting people.

Q. What causes would you fight for?

A. Sickle Cell.

Q. How would you love to be remembered ?

A. As a person of many skills and knowledge to share.

Q. What is the most important lesson you have learned ?

A. Don’t give up and follow your dreams.

Something To Shout About!

How many times have you had something to shout about?

Well today I came home from the office and went through my usual ritual of attempting to write a blog post.  Only to find myself coming into collision with the dreaded writers road block.  Took time out and did 20 minutes of Tai Chi.  I came back with my mind fully focused and ready to go.

My shout is about being amongst the 30 Practical Ways to Get Round Your Writing Road Blocks.

Joanna Young

Darren Rowse

Writes to be helpful to others and always giving away an awful lot of golden nuggets. A real super hero in the realm of blogging.

Publishes often enough to build a relationship with anyone who is willing to learn the art of blogging.

Knows how to connect with others and keep there attention.

Darren is a true professional.

My ratings for Darren is a clear 10/10

Subscription: Highly recommended

Cenay Nailor

Cenay also writes to be helpful to others. Cenays specialty is in mentoring and coaching others in the field of techie stuff. Cenay will always be the first to admit that she is a real computor geek.To be mentored and coached by Cenay is so much fun. What I love about this lady is that she is ready to come down to your level of understanding to bring you up.

Her blog  videos are so helpful and easy to understand.

My rating for this super lady and gem in the making is a clear 10/10 a winner.

Subscription: Highly recommended.

Chris Brogan

When I first came across Chris Brogan my first impression was Wow!!!. The content that he was and is still giving away is just out of this world.

Every time he puts up a post you know that there is going to be loads of free golden nuggets to walk away with. Pardon my expression but Chris is a real kick ass blogger.

Definitively a blogger I would love to meet and speak to.

My ratings for Chris is a clear 10/10

Subscription: Highly recommended

Hope you enjoyed this post. Please feel free to leave a comment or give me your feed back on how this post as helped you.

How many times have you said to youreslf today is the day I will get that blog post up only to find that another day, another week, another month and another year has gone by and your still sitting there procrastinating.

Up until now procrastinating as always been one of my biggest obstacles and as a newbie to the bloggersphere I found I was looking for all kinds of excuses to why I could not put up a post. I was basicley sitting were I am just watching the post’s of others go up other than mine.

Surfing the bloggersphire

I was on a quest to finding the anwser to my procrastinating. I felt like the Indiana Jones of the bloggersphere.  In my quest I came across names such as chrisbrogan, copyblogger and many more. The tips I picked up from these guy’s were like little golden nuggets.

The Winne the Pooh Guide to Blogging

My break thru came when I read The Winne the Pooh Guide to Blogging by James Chartrand. I so, so related to lesson 1: “You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them somtimes.”

How many times have you sat in the corner of your forest waiting for others to come?

Lesson 1 is a lesson we can all learn from and my lesson begins today with me getting out of the corner of my forest and tugging on your sleeve.

I have found the 7 characteristics of a mentor are as follows:

1. A willingness to help others
2. Has a passion to see other people succeed
3. Will go that extra mile with you
4. Is your friend for life
5. Has the gift of bringing the best out of others
6. Will tell you that you have chocolate on your face
7. Up to date knowledge and skills

For further reading click here.

Your friend for life

David Atkinson

This is a quote from one of my favourite books. I hope you are able take something from this article.

Are you fun to be with? Are you fun to come home to? People are drawn to laughter, sweet relief from the duties of life. You can make fun happen if you let out your own playful child and look for the playful Child in others. Having fun every day is a good prescription for keeping people. It is also a presciption for good health. A pediatrician noted that in some famlies there is little illness even though neither parents nor children take very good care of themselves. What she found was a lot of happiness. A bright young man of our acquaintance said, “contagiouspeople make healthy people.” Fun is contagious.

By observing others we can discover what they consider fun. Ask questions? One of the most enjoyable forms of intimacy is sharing fantasies: What would you do if …. you had a million dollars, owned a newspaper company, had a year off from work, built a mountain cabin? Familes can become dreary if problems always come first: Johnny’s bad report card, the leaking roof, or balancing the cheackbook. Problems need attention, but solutions come easier if people take time out first to relax. How long has it been since you have been silly, hopped in the car for a spin to anywhere, bought your friend a funny gift, mailed someone a cartoon, taken a day off without having to justify such “unproductive” behavior?

Are you considering a relationship with someone who is serious all the time? Is that what your life together will be like? Think twice. Fun is healthy. Fun is fun!

By Amy and Thomas Harris

Your friend for life

David Atkinson