GREAT ADAPTATIONS

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Photo Stinnett Archives_________________________________________________________________

Focus words
Thanks to Chris Brogan for bringing this good idea to my frontal cortex. It’s been a long time since I gathered my focus around “power words,” or concepts I want to keep in front as guiding forces throughout the year. It can be super productive. Chris talked about his three words in his subscriber newsletter. (Which you should definitely consider joining – chrisbrogan.com, and it’s the newsletter.)

My words won’t gel until January 6th, which is when I get my feet on the ground of the new year. But I can tell you one I’ve decided on: Nature.

Noodling around the meaning
The surface layer of meaning on this word, for me, sprawls out in two directions. One is my constitutional need for many more moments and hours surrounded by organic form. That can be beach, bay, woods, or even back-back roads. Also beasts. Any of those, just more. The other meaning is less definable (but I’ll work on that), it has to do with “my nature.” For now, my nature is Nature and that’s guidance.

This morning, on the way to Kathy’s office, as we pulled into the long, snowy driveway, a red fox ran out, and loped along the snow with a light, playful gait. We were treated to a good long look at this gorgeous beast.

The incident solidified this one word for me for 2010. Nature is. Nature does. And nature will.

I invite you to think about three deeply informing words for your new year. You might enjoy this very lovely gift from Christine Kane. She’s created a “Word of the Year Worksheet” and a sweet video to help you discover and work with those words.

Resolution Shmesolution
Meanwhile, the idea that we can create the life we prefer through New Year’s Resolutions has serious holes in it. This post by Jonah Lehrer in the digital Wall Street Journal finishes that idea off, and will help you understand how to work with the realities of your own brain to feel better and be happier with yourself as you navigate the promise of 2010.
Blame it on the Brain

Starry, shiny, surprising blessings to you all,

Suzanna Stinnett

I’m researching sites for a client this morning. One reason I’m paid to do this is that I can move quickly through digital debris, find posts and sites that are current, and assemble a relevant bullet list from our criteria.

Today, though, as the shiny new year beckons, I’m struck by the long trails of digital debris on many websites.

I’m talking about sites that offer many resources, blog rolls, links and freebies to their readers. While it’s a plan with a heart, all those beautiful topics and all their lively links to help each other through the obstacle of the moment, we’d do well to remember that it takes MAINTENANCE.

The high cost of generosity

One site I’m still wading through has the ambitious goal of offering its readership 1,000 free downloads. They have put them in categories. I’m evaluating this site for a place for my client to increase her own exposure, which is also part of this offering on the site. They encourage the contributors to use an opt-in page so the reader will become part of their list. That’s fine.

What’s not fine is that more than 50% of the links I’ve clicked are bringing up error pages. Others are going to the website of the contributor but to a dead page. And one even went to a smarmy miles-long sales page. Very disappointing.

We all could do some tracking and mopping up

The issue is two-fold. At least. On the one hand is the website owner with all the offerings to be organized and maintained. Maintain ‘em. Please. On the other hand, the contributor needs to be tracking where all their offerings are showing up and making sure the links are good.

Just start where you are

Sound like a lot of work? It is. That’s why, today, I am streamlining my own plan for 2010. Engaging the exponential can be done in a manageable way. I’m starting a spreadsheet for every place my current work can be seen (all the things I’ve initiated, that’s all I can do, of course). If it starts to get out of control, I will go back and eliminate the ones that are low performers.

ACTION PLAN:
*For starters, let website owners know when they have a lot of broken links. This is the only way we will clean up past linkage we didn’t track.
*While it might be too late to find older links from years past, begin now to track your posted links. Create a plan for the future. Decide how much you can manage and act accordingly.

The web is a chaotic mess, as it should be. But individuals can and must maintain workable threads through their own offerings.

Otherwise, our precious readers have no option but to click away, click away, like a bunch of reindeer on the loose!

Blessings,
Suzanna Stinnett

Let’s dispense with the conflict about tree planting and take a look at a system that works. Kim Isley’s company Trees for a Change (treesforachange.com) is a sensible way to give a meaningful gift, quiet as a winter forest.

It’s true: Not all tree-planting companies are legit. Kim looked into all that as she researched how to build her company.

Wander the path over to her site and you can learn anything you need to know about how trees are planted when people give the Tree Gifts through Kim’s site. These trees are planted in U.S. National Forest areas destroyed by fire.

You can even see your tree and learn about the area where it was planted. In case you want to go visit.

Trees, good. Here’s the link again:

Trees for a change

Happy December!

Suzanna Stinnett