Imagine the worst presentation you've ever sat through. I know, it's a painful memory, but work with me here. I bet I can guess one component of this experience—terrible slides. You know the slides I'm talking about. They are from some PowerPoint or Keynote template. They have a dark background and light words that are difficult to read. And … [Read more...]
Quotable: Saying No
"No is a complete sentence. It does not require justification or explanation," unknown. Are you good at saying no? I'm really not. Sometimes I say yes to things I really don't want to do because I feel guilty about saying no. Other times I say yes because I'm genuinely interested in the task, but I don't fully consider my ability to fit … [Read more...]
5 Podcasts You Must Hear
While you're testing how amazing your voice sounds in the car or chatting on your cell phone, I'm learning. Podcasts are a great way to learn from expert sources while doing other routine tasks like driving, cleaning or exercising. For those who produce them, podcasts are a good way to reach an audience who may prefer to listen to information … [Read more...]
My 10 ‘Must Read’ Nonfiction Books of 2013
I read a lot of books in 2013. You may remember that I challenged myself to read 100 books this year. I achieved the goal, plus some. I read books I loved, books I liked a lot and books I hated. I also noted in my observations of my reading year that I read a great deal more nonfiction than fiction. I assume this is because of my job, work on … [Read more...]
Sending You Seven Years of Thanks
I'm about to go back to where it all began. Ok, not technically, but sorta. I launched this blog seven years ago while attending what is now called College Media Association's annual fall conference in St. Louis. I am attending my sixth CMA conference, starting tomorrow, in New Orleans. The conference won't be in St. Louis, but I probably … [Read more...]
How to Write an About Page
If writing can sometimes be painful, writing about yourself is excruciating. I watch each year as talented students with impressive resumes struggle through drafting cover letters when applying for jobs. I advise them that highlighting their professional skills is not bragging and that "selling" what their unique skills and experiences can do … [Read more...]
How to Create a Free WordPress Blog
You've decided it's time to launch a blog, but you have no idea which platform to use or where to begin. No worries. I'm here to help with the basics of creating a free WordPress blog. WordPress.com is my preferred blogging platform because I love its theme options, content management functions and its ability to easily transition from a free … [Read more...]