Lip-Sticking

Mystic Stories of the Universe: People of the Bear Mother

by TD Austin, introduction by Yvonne DiVita

You'll not be surprised to learn that books play an important part in my life. I've written posts about publishing and reading and books quite a bit lately. I did a short review of a fantastic sci-fi series just last weekend, and now I want to introduce a series of blog posts around a new book. 

The book is, People of the Bear Mother. The author is TD Austin. We emailed back and forth a bit and I asked if she would share her writing experience with us, as I read the book and prepare to write about it. 

TD Austin wrote to me, "That the story of our Stone Age ancestors and their inner/spiritual lives should be told by a woman seems to me unremarkable because these hunting cultures were the most egalitarian in human history. Scientists tell us that the women's 'gathering' activities provided up to 80% of all food calories, that most of the shamans, spiritual leaders and healers were women and that the status of women was truly equal to that of men in ways that even our modern societies have not yet attained to.

How to spot a blogger at ten paces...

by Yvonne DiVita

Who remembers the good old days of blogging? When blogs and bloggers were scary to big and small businesses, everywhere? Blog? Not them! They didn't want anything to do with those loud-mouthed, obnoxious, gossip-mongers who were cluttering up the web with their 'chatter'. 

I remember them well. I remember arguing with many a CEO about blogging - shortly after Lipsticking was launched. I saw the power of the written word being used to communicate beyond telephones, TV, ads in magazines, and more. I realized that forming personal relationships online was a good thing, not a scary thing. Those who were willing to listen, and try it for themselves, often found my teaching to be truthful. Others, who didn't much like the whole online communication thing, did not.

Friday Musings - The Story of the Book

by Yvonne DiVita, Founder of Lipsticking, Co-Founder of BlogPaws

The nook I used to sit in on cold winter afternoons, with a book propped up on my knees, was halfway up the stairs, in the old house of ours. It was a small house. A tiny house by some standards. But, I was only 12 and had nothing to compare it to, so I thought it was grand.

There I'd be, on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, curled up in the corner of that nook - the windowseat covered with a soft cushion that barely offered comfort to my skinny bottom. The door to the downstairs was closed. We kept it closed in the winter, to keep the warm air downstairs. I would pull a blanket up around my shoulders and cozy on down into it... keeping that book propped up just so... just so I could lose myself in it and be one with the story.

Work From Home? Do It Professionally

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

When your commute takes you less than 30 seconds, there are times when it is tempting to simply roll out of bed, brush your teeth, grab a coffee, click on the computer and start your day. While this may seem ideal, especially to individuals who have to brave the roads and traffic on a daily basis, you still need to be "presentable" even when you work from home. 

As a work-from-home writer, it was a thrill to be able to give up the commute, but there was a learning curve when it came to being a productive work-from-home individual. Here is what I learned: 

Share of Mind & Heart - An Interview

by Yvonne DiVita

I miss my Smart Woman Online and Smart Man Online interviews. I did them regularly back in the early days of blogging. I reached out to some amazing social media professionals, some awesome authors, and just generally found interesting people doing fab things online that were worth an interview. I should revise that... 

Thinking about that led me to this interview, today. Upfront, I'm the publisher of this book. I love promoting my authors. But, in the end, the reality is that the book is worth reading by everyone in business today - because we're all marketers and we all bring a share of our hearts and our minds, to our work. The book is Share of Mind, Share of Heart: Marketing Tools of Engagement for Nonprofits by Sybil Stershic

Enjoy!

Yvonne: Why are you focused on nonprofits – isn’t all marketing the same?

Take Control Of Your Time: Manage Your Day

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

We all know that no one gets more than 24 hours in a day. How you spend those 24 hours, and the number of hours you work, will determine how successful and accomplished you feel when you walk out of the office at the end of the day. If you find yourself faced with a never-ending to-do list and deal with interruptions all day long whether it’s from colleagues walking into your office, social media updates, phone calls or emails, sometimes it seems impossible to get to your tasks.

There are days when time may seem endless, but it’s not. Time is a limited quantity and how you spend it will shape your productivity and satisfaction in both work and life. What steps can you take to use your time to its best advantage?

Are Your Time Savers Actually Time Wasters?

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

I love my gadgets. I have calendars in my phone and computer and am not certain what I would do without my technology! I still purchase hardcopy paper planners but rarely use them. I set timers for myself for tasks that I need to complete, set reminders for appointments I have to attend, and check my email and Facebook updates on my phone throughout the day. I do all of this to save time, right? Using my phone as my go-to item and setting reminders and timers makes me more effective, right? Hhhmmm maybe not. 

Death by Powerpoint

Couldn't resist sharing this. He doesn't mention "reading" your slides, but I bet that's one of the "do not do" points. If you can laugh at this, there's hope for you. If you see yourself in this, well... step back and learn. Powerpoint is a tool - learn how to use it effectively. 

This is a must-see if you have a speaking engagement coming up. Or, if you aspire to speaking in public.

Great video by Don McMillan, "Life After Death by PowerPoint 2012" thanks to Theresa Frischette for sharing on LinkedIn.

 

Can You Retrain Your Brain For Positivity?

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

Studies have long shown that individuals have about 40% control over their mindset. If you feel you're not in control or if your 40% isn't positive, there may be ways to retrain your brain, through your actions, to enhance a more positive attitude. Here are a few steps to take toward a sunnier outlook on life:

How much is a picture really worth?

by Yvonne DiVita
What does this picture tell you? We see a small group of children playing a game, perhaps it's ring-around-the-rosie, a children's game made popular during the black plague, so some say. Or, perhaps they're just regular, 21st century kids having a good time in the park, while their Moms (obviously off camera) are chatting about the Emmys.

We don't really know, do we? We could create 1000 words to explain the picture, but without context from the actual photographer, our 1000 words could be totally off base.