Archive for the ‘Blogs’ Category

Blogging, Freelancing, and the Economy

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Where Have I Been?

I stopped blogging because I got busy. Mid-August, I launched my own business, my sole proprietorship, freelance, independent consulting business. Yes, I joined the work-at-home, bunny-slipper-brigade, telecommuter, virtual worker workforce!

My blog nagged at me several times a week… for months. Funny how an inanimate, cyberspace tool can do that. However, this past week, I discovered that I’m not alone in neglecting my blog. What a relief! Both Debora Gallo (of eBites) and Lee LeFever (of Common Craft) published posts that describe their own blog neglect. It’s nice to find out I’m in good company. Take a moment to read their musings:

Debora Gallo, “It’s Not Just Me”

http://ebites.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/its-not-just-me/

Lee LeFever, “Why I stopped Reading Blogs (for awhile)”

http://www.commoncraft.com/why-i-stopped-reading-blogs-while

My situation wasn’t so much not reading other’s blog posts as it was getting used to running my own business. I had two clients keeping me busy, an attorney to chat with, and a CPA coaching me through tax consequences. I attended workshops and continued to network, marketing my business so I could gain clients for 2009. On top of that, of course, I continued to manage the home front, and use my virtual worker status to help a family member with some personal issues.

Things are falling comfortably into a routine, now, and I still value writing for my blog. I see the need to create a blogging schedule and stick to it. The blogosphere gives us a great cybervenue for the sharing of ideas, and I hope to give you something of value and encourage conversation and collaboration.

Freelancing and the Economy

While I was busy not blogging, some people have said to me, “Wow, Jenise, what a time for you to go freelance… in this economy!” Although I’ve been planning and preparing for this business move for about a year, I had no control over anything when I pulled the trigger. It’s difficult enough to time the stock market if you want to buy-sell stocks, let alone choose when you’re going to “go for it” and pursue your dreams.

Family and I are frugal, cautious, and seek wise council from others, including our Higher Power. But, sometimes you just gotta go for it. Otherwise, you’re still on the sidelines watching the game instead of playing in the game and running for goals or touchdowns.

Again, I found that I’m not alone. Bob Younce writes on “The Writing Journey” blog, and his post on freelancing in this economy is a great read.

Bob Younce, “Writing Your Way Out of a Recession”

http://writing-journey.com/internet-writing/writing-your-way-out-of-a-recession

So, that’s where I’ve been instead of blogging. I’ve been learning, networking, designing, developing, and having a great time!

As for the economy, it’s one day at a time for me. Let’s all do what we can for today, plan for tomorrow, but focus on what’s in front of us today. Despite the news, I do encourage you to pursue your dreams. You’ll need to plan, set aside contingency funds in a savings account, and plan…plan…plan.

I look forward to you joining the game from the sidelines, and writing about your experiences in your own blog!

Together, you and I will be “Always Learning” about business and making dreams come true!

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Content & Design Dilemma

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

About this Blog…Status

For a few weeks, I left the previous post “first-page visible” for my nephew and his colleagues in his school district. And, while they checked out those wonderful online resources, I had time to contemplate my blogging navel.

“Always Learning”, I realized that a dilemma diligently dogged my approach to this blog:

The “Content vs. Design Dilemma”.

Intrigued by the opportunity to improve my CSS skills and learn PHP, I neglected content. Now, inside my Wordpress Admin panel rest over 20 unpublished drafts of blog posts!

Sheesh.

So, I’m returning to content, and I’m excited about that! I mean, what’s a blog without content? Design still awaits me as a project, and I look forward to changing the look of this blog. Plus, I need to update to WordPress 2.5.1, and plan to do that this weekend.

However, beginning today, my focus is on content, first, then design.

Yes, I’m “Always Learning!”

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CSS Style for WP Post Title

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008

It’s Not About WordPress, But It Is
What does THAT post subtitle mean? My blog’s tag line is “Always Learning”. In this space, I want to share what I have learned in the past, what I am learning now, and what I hope to learn in the future.

Currently, it may seem like I’m obsessed with WordPress while I set up my blog. I’m not, really. No, I’m not. I’m not! Seriously, what fiddling around in WordPress helps me with includes practicing my basic CSS skills, and encouraging me to learn PHP.

My local public library loves this. I’m requesting books like crazy from throughout the library system. When I go to my local branch to pick up the books, I’m charged a 25 cent handling fee for each book. I enjoy supporting my public library system, so no bother about the fees.

However, what has bothered me is something about my blog: The post titles were not left justified. Finally, I found the style element I needed to edit:

h2.pagetitle {
margin-top: 30px;
text-align: center;
}

<< || Changed to: || >>

h2.pagetitle {
margin-top: 30px;
text-align: left;
}

I’m happy, now, and can move on to further customizing the Kubrick theme, claiming it as my own.

As more of my writing and instructional design projects continue to move to the Web, I’m grateful to WordPress for giving me a great sandbox to play in and improve my CSS, JS, and PHP skills, and to keep me “Always Learning”!

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WordPress: Not Just for Dummies Anymore

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

Last week, my coworkers and I went across the street to Barnes & Noble, where I saw Lisa Sabin-Wilson’s book “WordPress for Dummies”. Wow, what a find! However, hubby and I are saving up for some things, so I picked up her book from my local library (sorry, Lisa, but the public library system helps when times are frugal. But, I’m promoting you here on my blog!).

Lisa’s book is a fantastic reference. With it at hand, plus the WordPress Community Forums, I plan to learn all that I can and customize my blog until I can learn and code no more.

Why am I doing this? It’s a challenge and a compulsion. Although I am not an engineer by profession nor skillset, the engineer gene runs through my veins. (And, bore fruit in the lives of some of my cousins who are engineers either in IT or in construction.)

I like what Lisa says in her book, under the heading: “This Crazy Little Thing Called Blog” (chapter 2):

“The practice of blogging is an evolutionary process, and it’s my strong feeling that blogs have evolved beyond personal journals to become tools for real journalism, business, and authorship.”

So, that’s why. I enjoy the process. I’m going to expand on my CSS skills, and I’m going to learn PHP. Now, how wonderful is that? It’s wonderful because I’ll watch this humble little blog, and me, morph into something I cannot even imagine today!

For example, I may find a new partnership with Lisa!
http://justagirlintheworld.com/open-call-for-talented-people/

And, may what I share during this process, this journey, help both you and me to focus on “Always Learning” something new every month.

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2.5 Upgrade Completed!!

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

It’s really late; I did it! I have little experience with cPanel, intermediate with FTP, and basically little knowledge of WordPress. It’s a small step for this blogger, yet a giant leap for the inner engineer inside her who is crying to leap out, code, and become all that she can be!

Please rejoice with me. Why?

I’m “Always Learning”, and pings, trackbacks, and plugins are now just a weekend away!

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