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You Will Be Fortunate in Everything

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You Will Be Fortunate in Everything

You Will Be Fortunate in Everything

Well, that just about covers it. I guess I have nothing more to say on the subject.

Fortune Favors the Prepared Mind

Louis Pastuer once stated “In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind.” This quote has been re quoted and misquoted with regards to many things. However, I think that the original quote makes a lot of sense for those in the blogging arena.

As bloggers we observe what is happening around us and report on it, we photograph, tweet, video and facebook it. We record our observations and share them with the world. If we are educated on the latest trends then we can be prepared when chance happens upon us.

How to Have a Prepared Mind

To prepare your mind for fortune (chance) in blogging you need to do your research. Are you learning from respected individuals or are you listening to those who just have loud voices? There are so many “experts” in the fields of “Social Networking”, “SEO” and “Make money with …” . If you come across those people who say they are “experts” in those fields, run don’t walk to the nearest exit. By following those people you are riding the tail end of any trend. Sure, a few of them make it and do well but for the most part they simply rehash thoughts and ideas from other bloggers.

To find people who really are respected as authorities on blogging take a look at blogging conventions like Blog World Expo, Affiliate Summit and IZEAFest. Specifically take a look at the Keynote speakers. Generally if someone is keynoting at a conference they have something that people want to hear and should hear. So learn who those people are and find their blogs, then read their blogs to learn the dos and don’ts of blogging.

However, Don’t Be a Sheep

Sheep never challenge the shepard, they may wander away from the flock and get lost or eaten by wolves but they never challenge the shepard. Don’t be a sheep. If you are reading posts by bloggers weigh in and give your opinion, leave a comment even if you disagree.

Be Polite

Being a sheep and being polite are two separate things. You can be polite and still disagree with someone. Polite discourse and intelligent disagreement can generate excellent discussion and earn you respect not only from the blogger you are following but also from their followers. Being a sheep means agreeing with everything the blogger does and commenting to that effect. You may get noticed with an agreeable comment, however you most likely will become lost in the flock. Don’t be a sheep, have your own opinion and use it.

Back to Point

A fortunate blogger is one who learns and observes, picks his moment to act and makes it look like he knew exactly what to do all along. A fortunate blogger doesn’t waste words, she learns all she can before speaking and when she speaks she speaks with authority. A fortunate blogger understands that when his mouth is closed, his ears are open. Listen, observe, keep the good, toss the bad and you will certainly be a blogger who is Fortunate in Everything.

Photo-A-Day

A Bit Off my Game

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A Bit Off my Game
Photo-A-Day #1343

Some days don’t you feel like you’re just off your game? You can tell that this photo was something I took when off my game. I was eating dinner at D’Angelo and wanted to take a photo of the fact that I was there, there was a Christmas tree and also the mirror. Not the most compelling photo. It is raining and I think this feeling of being off happens a lot when it’s raining. It’s been raining pretty good here and I just feel off. Allison and Eva’s flight has been delayed so they’re not coming in until an hour later. Today I worked from home and when you work from home you can see everything that’s happening outside. When I’m at the office I have no concept of what is going on outside with the weather. But when I’m home I have to run things outside and I sit right by a window so I can see how dreary it is out there.

Today however was pretty productive. After work I took care of the rest of things that needed to be put away. I also noticed that there are many people who have revealed things in BenSpark’s Big Box of Awesome! I have no idea how anyone’s getting in to see this box. I did however find a few more things that I’m going to put into the box. Keep checking on the web and following me on Twitter to see what else is in BenSpark’s Big Box of Awesome! These folks found things.

Kat of Tough Girl Kat – dug around in BenSpark’s Big Box of Awesome and found a Retractable Modem Cord.

Magical Trevor of Nerdvana says Look what I’ve found!!! Apparently he snuck a peek inside BenSpark’s Big Box of Awesome and found some Hard Rock Cafe Key Covers.

Lenny of my Secret Project is playing Dress up with the funky Tie that he found in The “Big Box of Awesome” from Benspark

Pete of My GPS CameraPhone is urging his readers to snuggle up by the DVD fire because that is a prize they can get if they Win a Big Box of Awesome from BenSpark!

Mo of We’re in A Fight went on an amazing adventure to find something. She was looking for Sunshine…lollipops…and a Big Box of Awesome! What she found were the ninja claws of our cats.

Lynne of It’s My Imagination was able to find a Big Box of Awesome Contest and A Clue!

Today I also received a very important package. I can’t say much about it. That is, until December 16th. So you have to come on back here on December 16th to find out what was in the package I received today. Because what’s inside may benefit you or someone you know.

I noticed today on Twitter that there are a lot of people be nominated for what’s called the shortyawards. They are some sot of awards that have to do with Twitter. I got a nomination from Scott from AverageDudes. He nominated me in the personal category. He said that is because I post every single day on Twitter. And that’s true because I do post on Twitter I mostly post through Utterli. I’ve been using Utterli since Blog World Expo 2007 (and they were called Utterz). Every single day to post my photo a day. With Utterli I’m able to post to Twitter, my blog Google is Not God, and Flickr. I used to post to Pownce as well but Pownce is no longer around. I wonder how many other Web 2.0 companies are going to stop being around. At least with Pownce they gave me the XML files with all of the content that I posted there. While the content was redundant it’s still good to know that it was not totally lost.

As far as the ShortyAwards, I probably won’t win but I would love some nominations in the Personal Category if you like what I am doing here on this blog and on Twitter. Heres how you do it

To nominate someone for a Shorty Award, use the form on their site, or send a tweet similar to this:
“@shortyawards I nominate @benspark in category #personal because… (but write something of your own).”

And while you are at it, please nominate Ted Murphy of IZEA in the category of # #advertising. Something like this
“@shortyawards I nominate @tedmurphy in category #advertising because… (but write something of your own).”

I am always amazed at the connections that I make online. I’ve written about and even thrown a contest about Fry Sauce. Today I got a comment from Jim R. He used to make the fry sauce for an Arctic Circle. And he found my post about Fry Sauce and told me the correct way to make it.