What I Learned from Friends

Ellen Weber asked me to give her a hand as she launched Brain Leaders and Learners, a new Word Press blog. I love a creative challenge so I created a header and attempted to help with tech components. Guess what! The whole process nearly floored me... and here's where friends influenced the process...

Many friends recently moved blog sites from TypePad and Blogger to Word Press. Word Press has many professional options and allows much more contrul over the blog. And, after the attempt to help Ellen, I respect your courage to make this move...

Your new blogs look fresh and inviting. Congrats for pulling it off...

Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
Brad Shorr at Word Sell
Chris Brown at Branding and Marketing
Joanna Young at Confident Writing
Karen Swim at Words for Hire
Terry Starbucker at Ramblings from a Glass Half Full

I asked Brad Shorr if did this kind of work since he creates brilliant cartoons. He does not, but he kindly pointed me to an associate, Lara, at Anubis Marketing. Believe me, I know wisdom when I hear it. I contacted Lara and she came to the rescue.

Lara's expertise changed everything. She recommended that Ellen choose a unique design so that the blog did not resemble everyone else's. Not only that, she took the original header, added her touches and created a subtle, professional quality that connects well to the MITA Brain Based Center.

Ellen wrote initial posts and I suggested that she add some of the plug-in's Joanna Young recommended to encourage comments... such as Comment Luv and gravatars to make conversation more friendly since you can actually see people who take part in discussions. All was great until I attempted to add these. You may think it easy if you're technically gifted... but I found it a challenge.

Trouble flared at this point. Here's Lara's description: "You nearly blocked all of us out of the site entirely, and could've gone so far as to block anyone from even being able to view the site from the outside at all."

All is well now, but I'm a fix-it person and a problem solver first... especially if directions lack clarity... and, I'm still learning the hard way...

When two or more brains tackle problems, results look o-o-o-o-o-ooh so different.

I value the social community of friends I've found in the blogosphere. I learn from friends each time I read ideas they present on blogs or they comment on what I write. They inspire and they take the lead in many areas in which I'm still learning. I truly enjoy the conversations with them. You know and enjoy a variety of personalities. What a pleasure... and you can keep gathering new friends as you discover new blogs that intrigue you.

One way to meet new folks is to participate in Robert Hruzek's "What I Learned from My Friends" writing project this month.

Do drop by to see Ellen's new blog, too.