Web Site Overhaul

I have thrown myself into the abyss. I met Wednesday with my web site developer, slammed a cup of decaf, took a deep breath and said, "Trash what I have. Start over."

I'm referring to redoing my primary web site at www.denaharris.com.  It's breaking my heart to change it. I love, love, love my manic kitty-cat graphic--the same one you see here at the top of the page. It's served me well these past 3 years. People laugh when I pull out my business cards which has kitty on them and the cards are always good for a conversation starter. They were especially effective when I started out as a writer as much of what I was doing was pet related writing.

Lately though, I've been courting--and landing--more corporate work. Writing web site content, creating press releases, pulling together a press kit, drafting brochures... I estimate I've spent  50% of my time on projects like these in the past 2 months vs. my traditional magazine writing.

The thing with magazine writing is that  few if any marketing pieces are needed. If I want an assignment I write a query letter and wait for a yes/no response. Compare that to if I want to write a brochure for someone where they want to visit my website, see prior examples of my work, meet to discuss vision and pricing, have me prepare a quote for them... Wait. Why do I want  corporate work???

Ah yes. The challenge. It's something new. And because the work is coming to me. I have a file of leads people have given me that I'm waiting to follow up on because I need to send them a brochure or intro kit. Once I have my marketing items in place, I'm confident the work will come in.

And I'm not giving up magazine writing. I've got several new pieces in the works and just today landed a ghostwriting article I'm excited about.  It may lead to a book project, which is something I believe I will very much enjoy.

I have a lot to say about books and book projects. So much, in fact, that I think I'll hold off and make that my blog for tomorrow.  

Meanwhile, wish me luck writing content for my new site. Amazing how simple it is to create text for others but when it comes to tooting my own horn I wind up with sentences like, "Hire Dena. She write real good."

Nowhere to go but up.

"I Feel..." (Or do I?)

Last night in Dale Carnegie the focus was on overcoming arguments and then learning techniques to agree to disagree with others.   There was discussion on avoiding words such as "but," "however," and "nevertheless" when in conflict with someone. ("I hear what you're saying, BUT...")

Instead, the benefit of using phrases such as "I think," "I feel," and "I believe" were discussed. For example, someone says something you disagree with. You come back with. "You raise a good point. I believe ..."

I remember reading quite a few business books that advise people--especially women--to avoid using the "I think, I feel, I believe" phrases because these phrases make you appear indecisive and/or weak.

Here's my question--do you agree? Admittedly, those business texts I'm referring to were books I read years ago.  Is it true the new "Emotional Intelligence" indexes encourage rather than discourage the use of these phrases in business?

Not a life or death question, but still kind of interesting. Would love to hear people's thoughts on the matter.

#1 Stress Reliever

The #1 Stress Reliever in life is being good at what you do.

I heard this statement expressed last Thursday at a GMA (Greensboro Merchants Association) event I attended. The keynote speaker was Tim Gard, a professional comic and speaker who delivered a presentation on reducing stress in the workplace by developing a comic vision.  

I'm in complete agreement with the sentiment.  I find I'm most stressed when I've branched myself out into areas where I'm not quite sure what I'm doing.  Having a full workload but knowing that you know how to accomplish all that's on your plate isn't anywhere near as stressful as a smaller workload where you feel like you're clearing a new path through the woods.

For example, last year when I was working on the text for my new cat book (details on that to follow soon), I was a basket case. How should I organize it? I didn't know. How should I pair the text with the pictures and illustrations? I didn't know. How should I...

There were a million questions and no clear answers. I was a ball of tension. I didn't just want to do the work. I wanted to do it right. If a similar project came along, I might still tense up on time frame, but the looming stress of the unknown would be gone.

I wonder how many people feel they are good at what they do? I would suspect most, but then why is there so much stress in the workplace? Is it because people are constantly being asked to learn new things? Seems like that's dependant on the job. Or is maybe feeling we have to prove to others that we know what we're doing?

Regardless, I found it an interesting tidbit to pass on to you.

Runner's Update: I thought I had really hurt my left knee. Was in a lot of pain on Saturday and it kept me up most of the night. But the kinks seemed to work themselves out on Sunday and now it feels fine. My back still aches though. It feels like someone took a bat to my lower ribs and shoulder blades. I skipped yoga this morning for fear of re-injury. May try an easy 3-mile jog tomorrow and see how that feels. 

Please Send Drugs

Ow.

Ow.

Ow.

Today should mark a triumph in my life but I'm in too much pain to enjoy it. Almost. Today, for the first time ever, I ran 10 miles.  That is the good news.

The bad news is that...ow...I hurt. Everywhere. My knees hurt, between my shoulder blades hurt, my butt hurts.  I am going to make the Advil company rich if I keep popping the tiny brown pills at the rate I have been for the past 3 hours.

My neighbor Royce and I drove into Greensboro and had a beautiful run in and around Battleground Park. We ran the first 6 miles at a 9:15 pace and finished the ten miles at a 9:30 pace.  Pretty good for a newbie like me.  I was REALLY tired by mile 9. I almost stopped, but ego intervened. I wanted to be able to tell people I'd run 10 miles. "I ran 9 and three-quarters," just doesn't sound as good. So I huffed and puffed and informed my knees they would just have to suck it up for the last quarter mile. I was never so grateful to stop running.

Now I've got to do that plus 3.1 more miles for the actual race! I'm going to run 11 miles some weekend in November and see how that goes.  I think I'll feel better if I start out slower. We started at what was probably a 9-minute pace. That's okay to run 5-6 miles but I lost energy near the end because I went too fast in the beginning.

I'm heading into Greensboro tonight for a dinner. Looking forward to the company but not the drive in. My plans for the day are shot. I had a list of things to do but I got home from running, showered, and went back to bed.  I may drag my weak and feeble body into the family room to watch TV but that's about as high as my goals extend for the day.

YIPPEE!!! I DID IT!!!!  (Ow, ow, ow...)