Gifts and Talents Rise to the Top!

It never ceases to amaze me that each of us wakes up with a unique mix of eight intelligences, yet we use one or two at best. We're naturally stronger in some more than others because they've been developed more fully throughout our lives. As I visit many blogs, I take note of folks whose talents in specific intelligences rise to the top...

Interpersonal Intelligence: What is the one question most job seekers fail to ask in an interview? GL Hoffman not only answers this question, but offers brilliant tips to ask thoughtful questions at a job interview. In preparing these ahead, it will change the face of your next interview. In fact, I sense it'll put it over the top!

Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence: Want idea starters for blog titles? Brad Schorr built a list of 33 foolproof tactics to kickstart the process. You'll want to bookmark this or save it so you have it handy to create an attention-getter for your next posts.

Naturalistic Intelligence: Amy Jussel reports there is a new focus for youth named No Child Left Inside. This new coalition introduces children to the wonders of nature and helps them develop eco-literacy. Since a love of nature can be a legacy to children and grandchildren, I'm glad to see this helps those who otherwise might not begin to enjoy its delights.

Spatial Intelligence: Pick the best of David Armano's brain on Visual Thinking. David shares some of his best Logic and Emotion designs from Flickr in a presentation format. I'd like to learn how to do that... Don't miss this one!

Intrapersonal Intelligence: Are you burning out or burning strong at your work? Dr. Ellen Weber lists 38 questions for you to ask yourself. Where do you stand?

Musical Intelligence - How about creating a concert in a major city to help the plight of child soldiers in the Republic of Congo? Gavin Heaton's helping Isadore Biffin with her marketing plan for her major work in her last year of high school. A concert in Sydney on November 20, 2008 will help Isadore accomplish her goals. Isadore already confirmed local Sydney bands like The Shipwrecked and Peregrine -- and is hoping to add a headline act to the list. Music can help take this cause over the top! The concert's sure to be a winner with a mentor like Gavin and a go-getter like Isadore.

Bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence Ever consider that your vacation can open new opportunities to exercise? But... you have to plan for it. Alina Popescu decided to vacation in Oludeniz, Turkey. Here's what she planned: Paragliding, white-water rafting, hiking around Dalayan Mud Baths and Turtle Beach, canoing, horseback riding, and snorkling. Alina, I think I need a vacation like this one! What about you?

Logical-mathematical Intelligence Has your small business been feeling the crunch of this economy? Dawud Miracle describes a small business owner who came to him for advice since her earnings dropped 40% in the last 18 months. Her first reaction was to cut back on advertising and marketing since these were her highest expenses. What would you advise?

Dawud took her in an opposite direction...

In lean times, sure, cut back on unnecessary expenses. Readjust your books so you can loosen up some cash. But even more importantly, get active. In other words - sell.

Yet the key to coming out of a difficult financial period - be it your own business cycle or that of a slow economy - is to focus on growing your business. Utilize all the selling techniques you know about to stir your way out of stagnation.

A wonderful fact about intelligences is that though we may be weak in some areas, we can work to strengthen them. For instance, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence hasn't been my forte, but when I took up golf, I enjoyed it so much that I was willing to practice and do what was needed to gain the skills. I even won a district golf tournament with three other players. You can do this because the human brain has great plasticity so the dynamic mix of your strengths can actually change.

It's also fun to take a new perspective as you write a post. For instance if you generally just sit and write on your topic, what would it be like to look at it through the eyes of a musician, or a banker, or a hiker, or an artist?

Thoughts?

Tips to Grow Your Intelligences!

Each of us has eight different intelligences and we tend to develop some more than others. But here's a challenge - the more you build new skills in any of your multiple intelligences, the more new dendrite brain cells you'll develop. See what'll help you...

I'm shouting out bloggers who provide some smart tactics in each of the eight intelligences...

Spatial - Marshall Sponder thinks animated cartoons may be a door to more traffic... Wonder why Newsday has outstripped The Wall Street Journal in subscriptions? Animated cartoons! Marshall's take is that "people get engaged when they're artfully entertained - and we need to be real, while we're at it - and it's hard for a lot of sites to grasp that." What do you think?

Verbal Linguistic - Cam Beck reminds us that words are key to our message. Best tactic is not to blather on, but to make your point and engage your readers. When it comes to words we need to know when to "hold them and when to fold them..."

Interpersonal - Kare Anderson describes a "pecha-kucha" night as an “equal time” meeting format that's wildly popular because everyone gets a chance to share and compare in a quick and lively way. She says to think of it as "speed dating for meetings where the goal is to quickly learn a great insight from each other. This format has spread throughout the world, from Amsterdam to here in San Francisco. By the way, Pecha Kucha is Japanese for chit chat. Brevity is growing popular." Hmmm... sounds intense but lots of fun!

Naturalistic - Bob Glaza has a focus on demonstrating more care for our environment as he's cleaning up his trash. He took up the torch and wants to pass it on to all of us...

Intrapersonal - What do you do when everything looks bad? Do you merely "throw in the towel?" Brad Shorr has an inspiring post to remind us what happens when we muster something within to give it another TRY

Musical Gavin Heaton says he looks over his friends' music collections because he often finds many similarities, but enjoys finding a great new album through the process. Wonder what he'd find in the top tunes Terry Starbucker just selected for his new iPod?

Music helps me keep paced as I work. Music moves your brain waves to high gear. One of my favorites for that purpose is "Saturday Night Fever" by the BeeGees! What's yours?

Bodily-kinesthetic Do you have a good exercise regimen and yet note that you are not losing weight in your thighs and posterier? Mark Eagle puts his finger on the cause. You are not firing and shaping up your "glutes." Hummm... I'll have to start a new regimen before daily exercise!

Logical-Mathematical If you need more savvy about selecting a credit card processor for your business, Aika offers excellent tips... For starters:

First thing you would want to check on are the costs. How much will you be required to pay? A reasonable fee that credit companies often require would be at least 1.65 percent to 2 percent from your total credit card transactions. Although some credit card processors may offer cheaper rates, some may even go below 1%, these incredibly low rates often come with a catch.

I never cease to be amazed at what I learn from other bloggers weekly... Though I've participated in a poetry slam in past, pecha-kucha sounds like a great way to fire up interpersonal skills. I know for sure I want to fire up my "glutes."

Thoughts?

Bloggers Shine with Gifts and Talents

How does building on your gifts and talents make a difference? For starters, I'm energized and more creative when I take on challenges. True for you, too? Energy and creativity bring more flow as we work and can lead to distinguishing results. Here's how fellow bloggers' multiple gifts shine through their recent posts...

Interpersonal Gavin Heaton's a very special chap in my mind. Not only was he one of my first commenters and such an encourager that I grew in confidence to stick with it. Today I noted that Gavin gave tips to Nat, a new blogger in a thoughtful and encouraging way. He asks visitors to check out her "Viral Piece" because "it is much better than mine." In my mind, Gavin, this is SOCIAL CURRENCY at it's best and I think it's brilliant since you lift up the talents of another! Note Gavin's tactics!

When I ask you all to Vote for Mr Splashy Pants, this is what is happening:

• I am linking to Nat who brought it to my attention. This means that I hope that she checks her Technorati profile and sees that I am linking to her. Then she can respond and engage in conversation (hi Nat!)


• I am hoping that you good folks are going to click through to check Nat's story because it is much better than mine


• I am also using Nat's cute pic which has a nice call to action ... reminding you, dear reader, to help promote Greenpeace's efforts to save the whales (and if you "right mouse click" on the picture, you can save it and republish it on your blog -- nice one, thanks!).


• Hopefully you love the silliness of the name of the whale and want to promote this to the world in an effort to fight the barbarity of whale slaughter with the power of cuteness while adding to your karma credits (remember, when you write this on your blog you will also receive additional karma credit transfers from others to you -- after all, you are encouraging the good in all of us)


• As this effort accelerates, your sense of belonging improves, and provides you with a story to tell others (I was there, talking about Mr Splashy Pants, when he was only a baby beluga).

And, it's fun to note how another blogger perceives you. Gavin featured my blog in It's All in the Mind. I'm including grassfordinner's image found on Flickr because it's fun! I love Gavin's tongue in cheek approach to life since he often takes me off guard. Gavin, I just want to celebrate the way you advance SOCIAL CURRENCY! Thanks for your inspirations and encouragement.

Intrapersonal Timothy Johnson asks a great question, in DUH-cisions, "What is the best strategy to use when somebody makes a comment we don't like or appreciate? Count to ten? Deep breaths? Mentally write their obituary?" As you answer you prepare yourself inside for well-being or for stress. He uses a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt that we need to keep in mind, "Nobody can make me feel inferior without my consent."

At times we all get a jolt from someone with an opposing view. I'm learning more about respecting others who differ... you?

Musical Why not try some holiday jazz? J.B. notes that PBS offers great jazz including the Red Hot Holiday Stomp at Lincoln Center. Check out some holiday jazz on your iPod and see how it brings flow in the midst of the busy season!

Naturalistic Lisa Mills, a Mom who works at home, describes the fun of going out with her family on a freezing cold night to cut their tree...

We went out in the freezing cold last night and got our Christmas tree. It's a fat, little Frazier Fir. And now it's sitting in my living room, plainly waiting for me to put on the lights and decorations and make it beautiful.

Or how about an elegant Christmas at the Biltmore in Ashville, NC? Habitually Chic describes a fondly remembered Christmas with spectacular decorations...

It takes a staff of 1,800 a full month to light and decorate over 100 Christmas trees, hang 9,000 feet of fresh garland and hang thousands of ornaments for the more than 300,000 visitors that visit during the holiday season. And you thought decorating your house was a challenge!

Verbal-linguistic Quotes can help us remember concepts, especially when they're catchy. Michelle Malay Carter captured the essence of Timothy Ferris's Fast Company interview with"snappy, boring quotes" that stick in your mind. For instance, "Be the chess player instead of the chess piece." You might enjoy Ferriss's new book, The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. Michele, you've certainly piqued my interest!

Logical-Mathematical Chris Houchens of Shotgun Marketing tells how Mr. Splashy Pants soared out front in a Greenpeace poll to name whales that are traveling in the Pacific. Bloggers caused Mr. Splashy Pants to go viral on the net so the name's leading "hands' down." Chris thinks the "best way to get attention is to stand out from the crowd."

Numbers make a difference, as bloggers join forces for a cause... It shows the power of social media. You'll note at the Greenpeace site, they now embrace Mr. Splashy Pants.

Bodily-kinesthetic Trevor Gay at Simplicity claims to shop online, people "avoid wandering aimlessly and robotically around shops selecting presents. Or folks barge and bustle to beat other folks out for best merchandise offered during early morning hours." He sees people cold and wet in the rain as they get in and out of their cars. Hmmm... Not a pretty picture, Trevor, and you make a great case to shop online.

On the other side of this picture, when you shop in stores you get to feel material to determine quality or even hold a garment near you so you can picture the size.

Do you love that pitstop at Starbucks, as I do, to chat and compare bargains with friends? Shopping can be hairy, but it can also be fun in a way online can't beat. So I opt for both methods! You?

Spatial Trendy design and style created buzz for Pinkberry Chairs, according to Douglas at Service Untitled. People go to Pinkberry's for the experience and not just the frozen dessert.

Hmmm.... Shows style and design count... in addition to the $500.00 cost of each chair.

I found many bloggers using their gifts and talents when visiting O!Blogs with Outstanding Resources.

Why not challenge yourself to try approaching your topic through an intelligence you've not previously considered? I find it fun and rewarding as you can see...

Perhaps you'd enjoy taking a survey to see how your multiple intelligences are aligned. Inspired to try a new approach as you blog?

Right Side of Blogging Brains - The W-List

Seems we need both the right brain and left brain mix in the blogosphere. Though we humans obviously have both, gals tend to show more of the right brain qualities - intuitive, holistic, concrete, analogic, nonverbal nontemporal, nonrational, spatial and synthetic. In this light, many gals want to see even more visibility in the blogosphere to make a truly whole rountable.

Valeria Maltoni at Conversation Agent shared the list of Women’s PR blogs that was originally pulled from ToddAnd ’s list by Kami Huyse at Communications Overtones.

Valeria's bright idea was to start a W-List to help us all discover great blogs authored by women...the kind with high quality.

Liz Strauss from Successful blog is in search for Outstanding Women Bloggers. I'm honored that Liz Strauss added me to the list! She wanted each of us to add names of quality women bloggers. Cat added a few from the field of art and design so I've included her additions to Liz's list.

Here're my additions...

Confident Writing by Joanna Young
Priscilla Palmer: Personal Development Demands Success by Priscilla Palmer
Customers Are Always by Maria Palma

Here's the W-List as compiled by Liz Strauss and Cat with my additions:

45 Things by Anita Bruzzese
A Look at Art & Design: Lisa Mikulski
angiemckaig.com: still a great pair of legs Angie McKaig
Ask Dr. Kirk
The Artsy Asylum by Susan Reynolds
Back in Skinny Jeans by Stephanie Quilao
BlogWrite for CEOs Debbie Weil
Biz Growth News by Krishna De
Brain Based Biz by Dr. Robyn McMaster
Brain Based Business by Dr. Ellen Weber
Brand Sizzle Anne Simons
Branding & Marketing Chris Brown
Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk
Build a Solo Practice, LLC by Susan Cartier Liebel
Christine Kane by Christine Kane
CK’s Blog CK (Christina Kerley)
Communication Overtones Kami Huyse
Confident Writing by Joanna Young
Conscious Business by Anne Libby
Conversation Agent Valeria Maltoni
Corporate PR Elizabeth Albrycht
Customers Are Always by Maria Palma
Customers Rock! Becky Carroll
CustServ by Meikah David
Creative Curio by Lauren Marie
Debbie Millman by Debbie Millman
Deborah Schultz by Deborah Schultz
Designers Who Blog by Cat Morley
Design Your Life Ellen and Julia Lupton, identical twins
Design Your Writing Life by Lisa Gates
Diary of Claudine Hellmuth Claudine Hellmuth
Diva Marketing Blog Toby Bloomberg
Do It Myself Blog by Glenda Watson Hyatt
Dooce by Heather B. Armstrong
Email Marketing Best Practices Tamara Gielen
Emily Chang - Strategic Designer Emily Chang
Enter the Laughter by Marti Lawrence
Escape Blog by Melissa Petri
Escape from Cubicle Nation by Pamela Slim
eSoup by Sharon Sarmiento
Essential Keystrokes by Char
Every Dot Connects by Connie Reece
Fish Creek House by GP
Flooring The Consumer CB Whittemore
Forrester’s Marketing Blog Shar, Charlene, Chloe, Christine Elana, Laura and Lisa
Franke James by Franke James
Get Fresh Minds by Katie Konrath
Great Presentations Mean Business by Laura Athavale Fitton
Hey Marci by Marci Alboher
Get Shouty by Katie Chatfield
ifelse by Phu Ly
Illustration Friday Penelope Dullaghan
Inspired Business Growth by Wendy Piersall
J.T. O’Donnell Career Insights by J.T. O’Donnell
Joyful, Jubilant Learning by Rosa Say
Kinetic Ideas Wendy Maynard
Learned on Women by Andrea Learned
Lindsay Pollak by Lindsay Polla
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog by Liz Strauss
Lorelle on WordPress by Lorelle VanFossen
Making Life Work for You by April Groves
Manage to Change by Ann Michael
Management Craft by Lisa Haneberg
Mandarin Design Daily:The MEG Blog Michelle Goodrich
Marketing Roadmaps Susan Getgood
Moda di Magno by Lori Magno
Modite by Rebecca Thorman
molly.com Molly E. Holzschlag
Narrative Assets by Karen Hegman
Netdiver Carole Guevin
On My Desk Linzie Hunter
Presto Vivace Blog Alice Marshall
Priscilla Palmer: Personal Development Demands Success by Priscilla Palmer
Productivity Goal by Carolyn Manning
Purse Lip Square Jaw Anne Galloway
Small Biz Survival by Becky McCray
Small Failures: Sustainability for the Rest of Us Jess Sand
swissmiss Tina Roth Eisenberg
The Brand Dame by Lyn Chamberlin
this is rachelandrew.co.uk Rachel Andrew
Sheriar Designs Mani Sheriar
Spare Change Nedra Kline Weinreich
Talk It Up Heidi Miller
Tech Kitten by Trisha Miller
The Copywriting Maven Roberta Rosenberg
The Blog Angel by Claire Raikes
The Engaging Brand by Anna Farmery
The Floozy Blog by Kate Coote
The Kiss Business Too by Karin H.
The Origin of Brands Laura Ries
The Parody by Sasha Manuel
The Podcast Sisters by Krishna De, Anna Farmery and Heather Gorringe
Veerle’s blog 2.0 Veerle
Water Cooler Wisdom by Alexandra Levit
Wealth Strategy Secrets by Nicola Cairncross
What’s Next Blog B L Ochman
That’s What She Said by Julie Elgar
Ypulse by Anastasia Goodstein

To find fresh voices with amazing ideas for us all let's get to know a few more quality women bloggers and make the most of both sides of the brain in our roundtable conversations!

A Spotlight on Bloggers' 8 Intelligences

As I visit other blogs weekly, the wisdom of others takes my breath away. And, this week I found more amazing posts. Here's my spotlight on bloggers whose multiple intelligences shine...

Spatial Intelligence Marc Rapp at Uniquely the Epitome examines the evolution of a campaign through graphics as the main vehicle to express ideas. Pictures often say it better than words. Marc was, "Inspired by this maxim: 'A camel is a horse designed by committee.' -Sir Alec Issigonis." Don't miss this...

Verbal Linguistic Intelligence Frank Roche at KnowHR shares a great idea for team building that has more value than merely using ice breakers. Try Japanese writing instead. Frank tells how to use iKana, a cool new app, that can help trainers learn Kanji. Then have some teambuilding fun. This is a really great way to begin learning more about the Japanese and you would have a head start on picking up the language before your next business trip there!

Logical Mathematical Intelligence If you buy a Linksys Wireless Network Router at Best Buy, you expect you're accessing your own router when you set it up, right? That's too logical. Shandy King at Obsessive Compulsive Entrepreneur had an unexpected outcome since he accidentally hijacked his neighbor's router - the exact same brand with system ready passwords. You'll chuckle as you read this post which garnered well over 3000 DIGGs. Be sure to check who's actually on your own router!!

Musical Intelligence Ignat Drozdov, a very talented young musician, shared his deeply moving interpretation of Chopin's Nocturne in E-Flat Major at his site. Ignat does not depend on rubato for effect, but rather found a way to extend the pedal that leads to powerful culumination of phrases. See for yourself and let Ignat know what your thinking is.

Intrapersonal Intelligence Mike Wagner at Own Your Brand fleshes out a question posed by Peter Block, “What is the conversation you are delaying in your organization?” Mike shows how blogging can help managers get to the heart of issues rather than avoiding them.

Great blogs raise great questions - they supply anything from a gentle nudge to a swift kick in the seat of the pants. They’re a safe, online place to begin the important conversations our businesses and organizations need.

Take your blog conversations from your computer screen to your employee break rooms and conference tables. Let them live, make a difference, and do it NOW! That’s the promise of blogging fulfilled.

It takes lots of guts within to broach hard issues. Let's follow Mike's lead and use a blog to carry it off.

Interpersonal Intelligence - Phil Gerbyshank at Make It Great thanks readers for making connections with him. Phil says, "For me, I've realized that the key to my world is that we are here to be together, to connect, to care for each other, to help each other, to encourage each other." Phil is a great encourager and Phil displays interpersonal intelligence at the apex!

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence - Tony D. Clark at Success from the Nest reminds us that DOING is key to success.

Entrepreneurs are more like test pilots than people flying on commercial airlines. There is always a risk - that’s part of the adventure. But there comes a time when you’ve done all the tests, and the only way to know if it will really fly is to take off.

Are you ready to fly?

Naturalistic Intelligence Sara Noel at Frugal Village points out that eco frugality can make a real difference to our environment. Here are "R's" other than reduce, reuse and recyle that Sara would have us consider:

repurposing
repairing
restoring
respecting
rethinking
renewing
reviewing
revising
retrying

Check out more of Sara's excellent strategies for eco frugality

Multiple Intelligences: Chris Brown at Branding and Marketing used five intelligences this week to make something out of nothing - Create the branding, create the positioning, find the niche. Develop the words, the visuals, the images that make a brand a brand... Here's how...

Ways Chris unlocks and nurtures her creative side:

• Listen over and over again to The Artist's Way CD
• Doodles... I mean "graphic facilitation"
• Read Quinn Creative 's blog
• Cluster using writing the natural way techniques
• Play rhyming games

Inspiration abounds with a look at what others do so well. And now, I'll be taking off for another adventure to catch folks at what they do best. Tune in next weekend for my findings...