Nessa's Notes

This post is an article written by my friend Debbie Barth of NC Women's Network . Debbie would like you to visit http://www.sharethecause.com/healthline Life Lesson: My Bowling Epiphany Who knew going bowling could teach me another life lesson! My husband bowls once a month with some of his co-workers, and suggested recently that I should go with him to meet them, and also to visit with those that I already knew. It was the day of the event that he let me know that I would also be bowling. Now, most know that I am an avid football fan. However, few know that I don't bowl...nada...zilch....forget about it. Being the trooper I am (ok, actually I knew I could use this to my advantage later), I stepped up to the challenge. While we played three games, my "focus" will remain on the first game; which, the day after, has been deemed "the highlight of the evening". Needless to say, by the middle of the first game it was evident that I would be helping the team t...

Ryze is my favorite networking site. Yes, everyone is crazy about Twitter , and I do enjoy and profit from it. I also use LinkedIn, Biznik, Black Planet and Front Porch Folks, as well as several others from time to time. Recently I heard a Ryze forum leader comment that she wondered why anyone is still on Ryze since Twitter is "where the action is". In fact, several prominent folks have either downgraded or canceled their membership and participation seems to be slacking off. A few weeks ago I met a guy who told me he belongs to 89 different networking sites. Personally I think that's a bit excessive - who has that kind of time? But using only one or two sites doesn't seem to make much sense either. Especially when you consider that each site is just a bit different. Some, like twitter are more entertaining with quick bits of information flying around. Some, like Ryze are more in depth with room for fully exploring and connecting. It all depends on your objectives, y...

I recently realized I was doing a ridiculous thing by not publicizing my blog. It's quite silly, but I've been waiting until I got it right. But it'll never be "right" so I may as well quit erasing entries and let someone have a look. Otherwise, what's the point? In my imagination I'm witty and clever. I can always come up with lots of useful and interesting things to write about. And I'm not shy about letting the world read my every word. But in reality, I haven't been writing regularly because I fear no one will read it. Or maybe because I fear someone will read it. There is no place for fear. I already know that my writing is fabulous because my clients tell me so. So, this is my public declaration. I will post. And I will leave the posts posted.

So I joined twitter a couple of months ago. It took a while to get the hang of it, but now it's rather fun. And it's all anyone can see to talk about - online or off. There really are interesting things happening in the twittersphere. In the past couple of weeks I have witnessed two marriage proposals and laughed at countless witty blog posts. I've also gotten plenty of article ideas, learned a time-saving tip for my business operations and found a new client. All in spare moments when I pop in to check on the tweethearts. All very pleasant, entertaining or useful, right? Not quite. The endless debates about the possibilities of twitter and the character of those who use it are becoming a bit dull. Some swear it's the best thing that ever happened to their businesses. Others claim you have to be a complete narcissist with severe ADD to participate in it. As with any public forum, you find a complete range of personalities, cultures, assumptions and behaviors. I've...

Good customer service is not a difficult art to master. A few simple basics should be the starting philosophy of every business. 1. If you want my business, you have to make it worth my while. Show me the value and don't try to fool me with worthless junk or expensive "upgrades". 2. You are not doing me a favor by taking my money, just as I don't shop to do you a favor. So keep your bad mood and nasty attitude to yourself. And tell your employees to do the same. 3. I am not invisible. In fact, it's very easy to see me standing right here, waiting for you to finish your private conversation and serve your customer - who just happens to be me. Didn't your boss (or your mother) ever tell you how rude that is? 4. If you have a store, make sure it's clean and pleasant. If you provide a service, make sure you're clean and pleasant. If you sell a product, package it in a way that's clean and pleasant. 5. Don't argue with me. You cannot win because I...

Why is it so difficult to take our own advice, to do for ourselves what we do so often and so easily for others? I have spent much of the past twenty years helping people start and grow their small businesses, yet my own seems to have suffered through an endless cycle of surges and stalls. Both of my sons had moderate physical limitations as they were growing up so taking care of them was often challenging: I spent so much time at the hospital that many of the employees thought I worked there too! In addition to being a therapeutic foster parent for several disabled children, I was also a neighborhood mom, often sheltering and feeding a half dozen or more kids every weekend. Meanwhile, now that the kids are all grown and gone, it seems harder and harder everyday to take good care of myself with proper eating habits, rest and exercise. So, even though I don't do "resolutions" I have made a decision and a commitment to do unto myself more of what I do for others. For 2009 I...

It's been said that it's better to give than to receive. And although everybody enjoys getting presents, most people understand and believe this is true. That's why one of the worse things about financial poverty is not being able to give. But not being able to receive freely is another effect. A person tends to feel guilty about taking if they think they can't recriprocate. But accepting is also allowing someone else to give. So, sometimes it good to give the gift of receiving.