Archives for May 2013

New Blogging Tips Book by Jayme @Soulati

05/06/2013 By Jayme Soulati

Photo Credit: Jayme Soulati via iPhone 4S on AA flight to LA

On this blog since its start in March 2010, the topic of blogging has been a favorite of its author, Jayme Soulati. When it became time to look toward business development and making digital marketing a priority, Jayme pulled three years of blog posts about blogging from the archives and fashioned her first book.

by Jayme Soulati is now available for advance sale. The hard-copy easy-to-digest book is 130 pages featuring eight chapters, takeaways, teachings, notes, and #RockHot tips. The blog posts Jayme selected are original and remain live on her blog, Soulati-‘TUDE!

Members of this community are included in the book by name and often by blog post. Anyone featured in original posts remain in the content and thus the book. Where applicable, “Jayme Notes” update the original content.

Why Write a Blogging Book

The impetus for the book came from the desire to craft an e-book as content for business development. Upon seeing the plethora of posts Jayme wrote about her own blogging journey, she knew it had to be a true, printed book.

When bloggers launch their journey into blogging, there is intense pressure to be successful right away. So many books on the topic are oriented to monetizing a blog; this book is not about that. Jayme shares true passion for blogging with tips about the basics — voice, community, content, inspiration, the echo chamber, and the back end. The book is easy to read and written in her always personable style.

A blog is one of the most important aspects of social media. It is owned media — you write and control and own the message. Putting people on the right path to becoming an authority and influencer begins with a blog that resonates with authority and influence.

Self-Publishing

Jayme selected a regional press to assist in her publishing experience, one that did much of the legwork she didn’t wish to do. David Braughler of Greyden Press in Dayton/Cincinnati was extremely responsive and helpful throughout the self-publishing experience.

She used the free book template from Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch to put her manuscript into layout. When Guy and Shawn wrote and published , they invited people to download their template in exchange for a tweet on the book.

and Jayme invites your feedback, comments and review of her first title in a business book series.

Who Should Buy

One of the frequently mentioned tips Jayme offers in Writing with Verve on the Blogging Journey is to stay the course for 12 months before making changes.

She recommends that these folks consider getting a copy:

Anyone interested or planning to blog
Anyone on the blogging journey less than 12 months
Any blogger writing more than 12 months
Any corporate blogger wanting a few tips to infuse energy in a blog
Students and friends

The Happy Friday Series: What’s So Great About Being Happy?

05/03/2013 By Jayme Soulati

Credit: gurpreetlife.blogspot.com

A little while ago, I participated in a stimulating conversation in this very series . Besides the great conversation, I was really struck by what a good idea this whole series is.

We have so much. Collectively, we are wealthier, healthier and better educated than at any other time in human history and yet, anxiety and depression are rising at alarming rates. The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of disability.

Perhaps this is stating the obvious but I don’t think we’ve taken “happiness” seriously enough. We value rational intelligence and hard work. We certainly link “seriousness” to success. When people are taking their jobs, their lives and themselves really seriously, then we know they are committed and will go far.

Well, maybe. But at what cost? I don’t mean just the obvious negative impact of stress on our health. I’m actually talking about the collateral damage caused when we take everything so very seriously.

We don’t have time for common courtesy. We spend less time with friends and family. We point fingers and obsess about things we can’t do anything about. We take our stress and frustration and outrage out on those around us, either consciously or just in how we are in the world. I am in no way pointing fingers here. I know we do this because I do this.

What we focus on grows. If we spend a whole pile of time ruminating on what is wrong, the barriers between us and what we want, how wrong everyone else is, how unfair, cold and unsafe the world is, in time, that is all we see.

What’s Great About Being Happy

Here’s what is so great about being happy; when you’re happy, you believe you have choices. Having a choice gives you some measure of control in any situation. Recently, I read a post over on Susan Mazza’s blog that illustrates this point beautifully.

Susan was telling a story about a leader, Jim, who needed to deal with an employee who was obviously not happy at work. Jim had lots of options available to him. He could have gotten angry because the employee was just too lazy to work. Jim could have chosen to feel guilty because obviously, he must be a poor manager or the employee would be happy. Jim could have chosen to feel betrayed because he had trusted the employee.

Instead, Jim chose to accept the employee was unhappy in his work. He gave the employee contact information for 2 good recruiting firms. Jim told him that if he wanted to leave, these firms would help him. Jim didn’t want to lose the employee but he accepted the situation anyway. It was in that action – accepting the situation – that Jim levered happiness.

However you define happiness, people who experience life through a more positive than negative lens, tend to be more healthy, resilient and whole. Living life grounded in joy doesn’t stop stuff from happening. It also doesn’t mean we turn a blind eye. Quite the opposite. Being grounded in joy enables us to cope with the tragedy, pain and every day frustrations that are a part of life.

Beyond this really excellent weekly series, here are a couple of other happiness resources:

Shawn Achor’s TED Talk, “The Happiness Advantage”
The Happiness Project

Jayme, thanks so much for refocusing us on the power of happiness and for inviting me to contribute to such a worthwhile conversation.

About The Author

Sharon Gilmour-Glover is an experienced consultant, speaker and teacher specializing in leadership, strategy and change management. She leads an organization called Clarity For The Boss, and her wonderful business blog is right here.