The Educated Emotion

Ann Arbor, Michigan has made it to the top of many lists as the best place to live for women, bicyclists, and even dating. Recently, Ann Arbor has made it to the top of a not-so-noble list: The Laziest Cities list.  My first reaction was that of disbelief. But, then I read how the list was derived. For instance, locals like to begin their day at an average time of 8:17 a.m., which is later than most cities in the United States. My guess is that Ann Arbor's appearance on this list is a byproduct for some of the other lists it has topped. Locals like to carpool, bike, walk, and jog to work. Also, there is a lot of support for the arts. Between 2004 and 2005 I witnessed thousands of people lose their jobs and careers after a major pharmaceutical company left town. The estimated loss to the local arts community was nearly $400,000. This is a combination of the loss in funding directly given by the company as well as the decrease in highly paid professionals with time and...

Photo By Dwight Burdette [ CC-BY-3.0 ],  via Wikimedia Commons I was recently interviewed by Christy Haussler, of Brick and Mortar Reporter , for my first podcast ever. The notes are posted on her page , but to hear what I think is the single-most ingredient to a successful social media marketing plan, listen here  and post it in the comments (and there just may be a little reward in store for doing so): Post by Brick and Mortar Reporter Podcast .

RECAP FROM LAST WEEK'S POST ON REFLECTION: The important thing is to incorporate what we see going on behind us into our decision making, while maintaining our focus and speed moving ahead. That is the beauty of taking time to reflect on your business performance even when you are doing okay --you can focus on your strengths and build up your weaknesses. Get over it, people. Monday morning, with all its tricks and detours, comes each and every week. And, as an entrepreneur, I can attest to how Mondays never get better. Even with an alternative schedule, Monday morning still finds me. All Who Wander Are Not Lost I am a wanderer. I don't even expect my to do list to be touched Monday morning. Not that it doesn't; I just don't beat myself up about spending a couple hours reading and "listening" online. In my parallel universe, where I live as a writer, it is important to wander to find future readers and build community. Performance and Change Facilita...

This February marks two years since Whitney Houston died and fans are still mourning. We start each day looking at our reflection in the mirror. That reflection is powerful. In a glance, we make an assessment of our appearance and what we have to offer, what we may be able to change right now (like tucking in a shirt or smoothing a collick), what we may be able to enhance now (such as lip colour or adding jewelry), and what we can improve upon over time (such as weight loss or reducing acne).   Later, we drive to our destination using the reflection in the rear view mirrors to help us make decisions on how to move forward and stay safe. This month marks two years since Whitney Houston's  untimely death . So many positive interviews, quotes, and contributions have been unearthed since her death that I can't help but wonder what would have happened if her last days had been brightened with some of the encouragement, compassion, and perspective on her life that was shar...

“Every person needs to take one day away.  A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future.  Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence.  Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.  Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.”  ―  Maya Angelou ,  Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now If you live in the midwest, you are probably weather-weary by now. There is a much bigger demand mentally and physically on us as we move about with a host of weather-related obstacles. It seems only right to compensate by sacrificing your off day or personal time - but don't do it!  Have a nice weekend and see you back here on the Educated Emotion next week! Peace, The Educated Emotion

I made the decision about a month ago, to quit playing with my prices and use the price points that I researched extensively. My research included web searches, informational interviews, and senior business advisers. I wanted to have the fairest pricing available. I have had a couple people that have known me for awhile question my pricing. I lost confidence in my pricing and tried to appease people at prices that were not at benefit to me or them.  Today, I am pleased with the increase and consistency in quality and detail I am able to provide to clients. I know that I am competitively priced  for the services I render. A couple weeks ago, I finished up a 90-day strategy with a debut author that had no previous digital footprint and started working on action steps. I charged him my standard rates and was able to create a practical, creative, strategy for him that I am really excited about. He sold 18 copies of his self-published book within one week of us worki...

MLK Day is not a holiday for slackers. The Martin Luther King Day of Service was created to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through reflection and service. Instead of blogging last Monday morning, I used that time to reflect and have meaningful discussion with my son about some of the lesser known allies to the civil rights movement such as Bill Cosby, Harry Belafonte , and Charlton Heston.  In addition, this entire month I have been revisiting my current projects to see how they aligned with my overall goals. Last week, I reflected on the reasons why I constructed this blog . I have a blog that deals with personal and professional development. I have a poetry blog...well, because I'm a poet. But, this blog is the one I chose to associate with my business . The Educated Emotion debuted on December 1, 2011 and has several meanings, both personal and professional.  On a personal level, it was to capture and communicate what I have learned and continue...