May 31, 2007

Ready for a different type of photo puzzle?

Put this game on your blog   Create your own   More games

Hee hee! Several of my online friends are havig fun creating games that allow you to upload a picture and poke some fun at the person you’ve chosen (or yourself.) It’s all in the spirit of fun, of course. I’ve played and enjoyed them, but my preference, as you know is for puzzle games. I especially like photo puzzles and some of you do too, so here’s what I’ve put together for you. Post your best time!

Tip of the hat to VC Dan for setting the ball rolling, and to Lisa, Charlotte, and all of the others who shared the fun.

[tags]free games, games, personalized games[/tags]

May 30, 2007

Promoting my business

I sat down to do this post over four hours ago. I’ve been on my sponsor’s website ever since, and I’d appreciate some input from you folks on a decision I need to make. My business is eight years old and I’ve never done much pro-active marketing. I have a packet of information that I distribute on a day-to-day basis and I am occasionally asked to address real estate offices at a monthly meeting or continuing education seminar. That’s pretty much all of the promoting I’ve ever done. My clientele is limited to realtors on Oahu and a few escrow transaction co-ordinators, so I decided long ago that trade shows and home shows that appeal primarily to homeowners and developers/builders would not be a wise investment. Referrals from satisfied clents have kept me going all of these years, but the real estate market has been very slow for over a year now. I need a way to reach out to new prospects who haven’t tried my services yet, and to keep my name in front of my existing clients. The most practical and affordable way for me to do that is to find some imprinted promotional products that will encourage clients and prospects to keep my name and contact information right at their fingertips.

I have my insurance agent’s calendar on my desk. It’s compact (important in a cluttered office like mine) and I use it every time I work on my books. I also look there instead of the phone book when I need to call him. I want something that handy to put in front of my clients. It’s the wrong time of year to send out calendars (though it’s something I should consider with my holiday greetings this year,) and I need to start promoting my business now. My first thoughts were of pens and keychains because realtors use a lot of both. I think, though, that they’re likely to leave those with their clients, who are not my clients. Realtors use a lot of highlighter pens to mark up their documents and I don’t think they would give those away, but I want something more durable. While I was looking at the items offered at gimmees.com I was having “voila” moments repeatedly. I have four letter openers scattered around my office. Two of them are works of art and rather pricey. I never use them. The one I use most was picked up at a home show over twelve years ago. The advertising imprint for the company that gave it to me is still doing its job because I use it every day. Likewise the luggage tag on my briefcase and the business card holder that goes everywhere I go.

I’ve narrowed my choices down to two that are within the budget I’ve allocted and will do an admirable job of helping me accomplish my goals. The letter opener seems like natural to me because of my own experience. I haven’t looked at all of the many styles available yet, but I really like the house-shaped one depicted here.

My second choice is an item I’ve never used before but I really like it. I think that it’s unique enough that it’s not likely to get tossed in a drawer with half-a-dozen others and that it would be used regularly. And, well, it’s cute and I like it. I’d consider using it for a future photo puzzle if I didn’t want your opinion, but since I do I’ll tell you that it’s a screen duster. Now wouldn’t you use one of those and keep it either on your desk or in your notebook/laptop bag? Wouldn’t you notice the imprint every time you cleaned your screen? Or is there some other desktop item that you think would do a more effective job for me?

What do you think of my reasoning? There are a lot of other choices at gimmees.com and it’s possible I’ve missed the most perfect item of all simply because they have so much that I haven’t seen it all yet. If you stumble across something else that you think is better than my own choices, give me a shout. This may seem like a small thing to those of you involved in big business, but it’s huge to me. Can I get some feedback from my readers who either own their own businesses or have helped promote a business?

Edit: Maybe I shouldn’t have gone back to site before making a firm decision. I’ve just discovered their “Bargains” and “Sale and Closeout Items” links. I could be there a long, long time.

[tags]promotional products, trade show giveaways, payperpost[/tags]

Sad spider

I introduced you to my houseguest six days ago and provided some updated information the following day. Yesterday I noticed that her web was looking a little ragged, and today it’s really a mess. We’ve had a little wind, but she’s in a relatively protected position, and the winds were not terribly fierce, so I’m not sure that’s the explanation. I have a theory. It’s based on next to nothing, but it’s where my brain has gone with this. She hasn’t produced an egg sac. I think it’s likely that she hasn’t got a mate. No egg sac to tend, no forthcoming offspring = no need for an orderly web, so she’s allowed it to deteriorate. Haven’t a clue what’s really going on, but I like the theory. It’s tidy.

[tags]Argiope appensa, Hawaii, Hawaii spiders, photos, spider[/tags]

May 29, 2007

Maili

You learn something every day. Well, I do, and I hope that’s always the way of it. I’ve passed the marker at Maili Beach Park many, many times over the last twelve years. I realized this weekend that I’ve never approached it. If I had, I would surely have seen the plaque set into the ground in front of it.

This is a land rich in legend and traditional lore. Ancient stories were preserved and passed on orally from generation to generation until the missionaries crafted an alphabet and a written Hawaiian language. I have numerous books that retell these old stories, but had never known this one that is undoubtedly revered as the telling of the origins of my own little community. I need to spend more time getting to know my neighborhood. I think I’ll start by figuring out which mountain is which.

[tags]Hawaii, Hawaiian lore, history, legends, photos, traditions[/tags]

28 classics from The Police

There are people in this world who were more excited than I was when it was announced that The Police were going on tour. Tickets for thirteen of the twenty-six European concerts have already sold out, so I guess the guys are pretty popular over there. Coincidentally, tickets are still available for only thirteen of over thirty North American concerts, so I suppose that means there are rabid Police fans all around the world. Some of those same people who stood in line to get first crack at the concert tickets are probably already standing in line for the new police cd, which won’t even be released until June 5th. I’m above such frivolity, of course. It would be very unbecoming for a woman of my mature years to behave like a teenage girl with a first crush just because the group that scripted the music for my last love affair happen to be re-releasing all of their classic hits in a two-cd set that will probably sell out before I can hobble to the record store. You won’t see me down in the trenches duking it out with fanatical groupies for my own copy, even though it comes with 28 classic tracks and includes a 1979 vintage concert poster that makes the boys look like … well, like boys. No, it would be beneath my dignity to exhibit such enthusiasm, even though “Every Breath You Take” still causes me to blush because the first time I heard it I was … well, never mind; you don’t need to know that story. What you do need to know is what’s included on the new cd:

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. Fallout
2. Can’t Stand Losing You
3. Next to You
4. Roxanne
5. Truth Hits Everybody
6. Hole in My Life
7. So Lonely
8. Message in a Bottle
9. Reggatta de Blanc
10. Bring on the Night
11. Walking on the Moon
12. Don’t Stand So Close to Me
13. Driven to Tears
14. Canary in a Coalmine

Disc: 2

1. Do Do Do de da da Da
2. Voices Inside My Head
3. Invisible Sun
4. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
5. Spirits in the Material World
6. Demolition Man
7. Every Breath You Take
8. Synchronicity I
9. Wrapped Around Your Finger
10. Walking in Your Footsteps
11. Synchronicity II
12. King of Pain
13. Murder by Numbers
14. Tea in the Sahara

Hmmmm! My memory is not what it once was, but now that I’ve reviewed the list again it’s becoming clear to me that the new police cd contains songs that played a signifigant role in several special relationships in my dim and distant past. I wouldn’t mind having a copy of the set myself, just to keep those memories, um, stimulating. I just can’t make myself go stand in line to be one of the chosen few who snags a copy that first day. Most people see me as an old-maidish type and I have to admit that I don’t mind my son thinking that of me. Doing something as silly as camping out in line for music that arouses fond memories might make him start to think a little too much about his own vague memories of Mom’s past, don’t you think? I wonder how much the kid next door would charge me to go wait in line for me?
[tags]music, The Police, sponsored posts[/tags]

Tuesday Teaser photo verification

Congratulations to Martin, who guessed that the Tuesday Teaser photo was part of a picture of a pair of scissors. You’ll get a linky love post here at skeet’s stuff, Martin, and your name has been entered into a drawing for a ten dollar gift card.

This was the last contest for May and the drawing will be held on Thursday, May 31st. Congratulations to the winners and good luck in the drawing!

[tags]contests, photo contest, photo puzzle[/tags]

Elistic

I’ve just registered for the new social bookmarking site, Elistic. I’m a bit new to the world of social bookmarks, having reigstered for my first site just few months ago. I’ve used “the big one” the way that many folks use rss feeds, as a way to keep up with new posts on blogs that I like. Other than that, I’ve never seen much use for them, and I think those big guys shot themselves in the foot with their new rating system.

Visitors get to rate the bookmarked entries by awarding bullets (Get it? Bulleted lists!) I’m totally stoked that my own post has gotten a few votes within the first hour of being listed and has five stars, the highest number that can be awarded. I and can see using it to bring traffic to my own site as well as to share sites that I like and to find new ones. Here’s where it really gets interesting, though. After I’ve rated a few sites Elistic’s intelligent software will know a little about my tastes and preferences and will begin to recommend sites to me. I’m always looking for new and challenging puzzle sites, so I’m hoping Elistic will help me find them. It’s all fine and well to enter “puzzle” into a search engine, but that brings up a lot of rubbish that I have to wade through before I find anything worthy of my attention. With the Elistic personalized recommendation engine, I’ll begin to see puzzle sites that people actually like enough to rate, so the sorting is already done for me. A great time-saver that should help me find some very enjoyable sites.

Adding a bookmark is easier with Elistic than with any of the other bookmarking sites I’ve tried. I hate adding more clutter to my toolbar, so thank you, Elistic for not making me do that! After I registered I added Elistic to my IE bookmarks. Adding a new site is as easy as dragging the bookmark to my address bar. Very cool, very user-friendly!

The Google group for discussions is a cumbersome method of communicating with the site admin and other users. I’m hoping that a more user-friendly disscussion board will be incorporated into Elistic soon. It’s a free site and a labor of love for its creator, so it’s understandable that he won’t be spending a lot of money on new software, but there are free message boards that are easy to set up and could give us an easier approach to communicating about the sites and our favorite listings. Message boards build community enthusiasm, too, so adding one to Elistic will increase user loyalty and help build return traffic. Still it’s a great new site and a lot of fun. I’m awarding five bullets to Elistic and I thank them for introducing themselves through this sponsored posting opportunity.

[tags]blogging, bookmarks, social bookmarking sites, payperpost[/tags]

Tuesday Teaser for May 29, 2007

Can you identify the item depicted above? Take your best guess and post it in the comments below. If your guess wins, you’ll win a nifty prize. Here’s how it works:

1. Write a comment giving your guess as to what the item is.
2. First person to identify the item wins.
3. The author of this blog will be the sole judge as to what constitutes a correct answer.

What will you win?

1. The author of this blog will write a LINKY LOVE POST (review) about the winner’s blog. The LLP will contain the url for your blog plus two deep links and will be posted here on Skeet’s Stuff, a PR4 blog. Skeet writes good reviews.
2. The winner’s name will be entered into a drawing for a $10.00 gift card from Starbucks or Amazon.
3. Drawing for the gift card will be held on May 31, 2007,and will include all weekly winners for the month, thus the maximum number of people who will be eligble is four. That’s pretty good odds.

Other stuff

1. All comments to this blog are time and date stamped. The winner will be the first person (according to time and date stamp) to provide the correct answer.
2. No hints will be given.
3. Answers must specifically identify the item. For instance, if the item depicted were to be a button on a remote control, the answer “button on something electronic” would not suffice.
4. Decisions of the judge are final. Don’t argue with me. I won’t answer.
5. I will attempt to post every few hours as to whether or not a winner has been declared, but I am not continuously at the keyboard so please be patient.
6. Entries must be posted before 1:00 a.m. Thursday, May 31, 2007, Hawaii time (GMT -10, approximately forty-eight hours from now.)
7. This is intended to be an ongoing feature at Skeet’s Stuff. If it turns out to be a dud it will cease to exist, but all qualified winners will get their prizes.
8. Skeet’s Stuff is a do-follow blog, so you get some link value just for commenting.
9. Let the fun begin!

[tags]contests, photos, photo contest, blog contest[/tags]

Losers, weepers

I live in a duplex. My neighbor’s home sits further back from the road than mine, but we share a carport out front, divided down the middle by a galvanized fence. The same fencing extends across the back of his carport to separate it from my yard. There’s a narrow alley-like strip between his caport fence and my screened lanai. The alley opens onto my side yard, the one with the herb garden and the new lawn. I rarely go in there, but it’s a convenient spot to store some gardening supplies and my tiki torches. I’ve gone in a few times lately to take the photos of my spider friend. Today I went in there to rake up leaves. Found the interesting little zip bag pictured above. It took a moment for me to realize what I was seeing. My first thought was “Uh-oh, wonder if M & S know.” My duplex neighbors have three young adult kids at home & I figured the envelope had blown under the fence from their carport. I’m pretty sure my neighbors would not be happy to think that their kids had brought drugs home, even something as innocuous as this. You never can tell, of course but the kids don’t seem the type. Then I realized that the baggie was directly beneath the spot where my builder and his helper stepped off of the carport roof to access the lanai roof when they repaired it a few months ago. This would be the helper who used to leave every day for his lunchtime indulgence because he knew I didn’t want him smoking his stuff on my property. It makes perfect sense that this was probably his property and has been sitting for several months right where he dropped it. I think I won’t let him know I found it, since it’s been flushed away now. No, I didn’t care that he smoked a little weed, but I did ask him not to bring it to my home. Guess he forgot the rules. His loss.

[tags]just stuff[/tags]

May 28, 2007

Fostering personal growth

Education is an ongoing process in my life, as I think it is or should be for anyone in business. Staying current with industry-specific subjects doesn’t present a problem because I’m well-supplied with courses, study guides and seminars through professional associations and publications. Maintaining a small business, though, requires reaching outside that narrow focus in order to develop and maintain proficiency in marketing, public relations, finance and a myriad of other aspects of successful business operations. Independent reading and online college courses offer the most time-efficient approach for fitting my educational needs into my busy schedule.

One particular area of study I can’t afford to neglect is personal development. The group dynamic within larger businesses can help each individual team member maintain enthuiasm. As an independent business person who works without such a support network, I must seek outside resources that will foster achievement and personal growth. Sara Orem has authored a new book that is based on the premise that “people and organizations flourish when they focus on human ideals, achievements, and best practices.” Success or failure in my business can be largely attributed to the respect and individual attention that is brought to each personal contact. If I fail to connect in an honest and strightforward way with each client, I’m doomed to mediocrity at best. Maintaining freshness and enthusiasm on a daily basis can be problematic, but with the proper tools it can be accomplished. Sara Orem’s book, Appreciative Coaching: A Positive Process for Change, recently published by Jossey-Bass, seeks to help fill that need.

“Rather than focusing on individuals in limited or problem-oriented ways, Appreciative Coaching guides the reader through four stages – Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny – that inspire them to an appreciative and empowering view of themselves and their future,” says Orem, a faculty member at Capella University’s School of Business and Technology.

This is an approach that fits solidly into my own attitudes about business. I belive that Sara Orem’s book can help me stay solidly on the path to growth and success.

More about the school: Capella University was founded in 1993 and is an accredited online university which offers 82 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 16 certificate programs. A free online seminar, “Returning to Learning,” can help acquaint you with their programs and determine your own readiness for a return to formal studies. Tuition assistance and financial aid are available, as are military discounts and credit for military experience. For more information, please visit Capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).

This blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

[tags]business, businesss education, online college, online degree programs[/tags]