Seize the Day - Power Up Creativity

C Carpe Diem - Seize inspiration and
R Run with ideas to see where they can take you
E Explore and play, never stopping...
A Angle your line for hours as a person who fishes
T Talk with creatives and people outside your field till your brain's abuz-z-z-z-z
I Initiate from within - unleashing your potential
V Vacuum cobwebs - relax and  refresh your spirit
I Idle the motor - simply daydream when you feel like it...
T Touch your soul - Thank God and be grateful
Y Yes, yes, yes.

Look at creativity through another viewfinder to see the action in your brain

C Curiosity and discovery can increase rewards to brain through dopamine, a natural drug
R Rewire brain by doing creative acts & your brain builds neuron pathways for creativity
E Engages amygdala where brain processes emotional information that feeds zeal & novelty
A Adjust speed of brain waves by selecting music that enhances your creative activity.
T Target your working memory to try new skills
I Insightful thinking increases activity in temporal lobes, which enable applications you try
V Vary work activities to tap your brain's multiple intelligences
I Improves focus and problem solving through brain's natural serotonin
T Tap into sensory information stored in parietal lobes to enhance visualization of places and events
Y Yield to a sense of improvisation and self-expression that originates in the brain's frontal lobe

Crankiness and Its Antidotes

Ted Coine remarked that he felt cranky the other day, so he grabbed a bite to eat. Somehow that remark about crankiness aroused my curiosity about the topic. What makes us cranky anyway, and what can we do about it? If you ever awaken feeling so cranky that you're ready to take off somebody's head, why not share what you do to overcome it.

Causes of Crankiness:

Self Control: People on diets are known to be irritable and quick to anger, researchers David Gal and Wendy Liu find. They just don't welcome messages that nag them to control their behavior. "People who attempt to practice more self-control are attracted to aggressive art and public policy appeals, according to a recent study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Sleepless Night: If we pull an all-nighter or experience a sleepless night we might be very cranky and moody next day. The sleep-deprived brain will swing to extremes of euphoria or crankiness, neither of which is good for decision-making. Sleep deprivation shuts down the brain's key planning and decision-making regions, Matthew Walker and his UC, Berkeley research team found.

Shift Work: Though shift workers may get 4-5 hours of sleep a night, they build up an increasing sleep debt. As time progresses, fatigue increases. Trouble is they become more irritable, and then it's easy for anger to flare as they take out frustrations on family, and fellow workers. Check tips from the Healthy Shift Worker and the Mayo Clinic for better sleep

Nasty Role Models People around you greatly influence your actions, Nancy Grant Halvorson notes in her review of Robert Sutton's, Good Boss, Bad Boss. Here is why...

Throughout Good Boss, Bad Boss, Sutton emphasizes the enormous power of social influence. We emulate the people around us, often unconsciously. And as he writes, "emotions are remarkably contagious." Anxiety, cynicism, selfishness, and negativity rub off. So if you are surrounded by cranky jerks, you just might begin to behave that way yourself without realizing it.

Mirror neurons in your brain are equipped to mimic other people’s feelings or reactions, either for well-being or toxins.

Chores An overload of mundane or housekeeping chores can be overwhelming and frustrating, leading to irritability and crankiness. This can be especially true if the whole load lands on one person after a work day or on the weekend. Every time we send a message to our brain about how much we hate doing chores, the stronger the aversion to chores becomes.

Stress "Symptoms such as headaches, irritability and depression can actually be signs that your stress levels are too high," Beth Rifkin says. When people habitually react to challenges poorly they keep wiring for more of the same. Cortisol is released in the brain, causing people to be indecisive, poorly organized and cranky. Over time, cortisol can literally shrink your brain. It may be impossible to resolve issues or embrace growth, but it doesn't have to be that way, if you begin acting in the opposite direction.

Genes The reality is that genes can make women cranky, though I am wondering if a comparable study was done with men. "Genetic variations that deal with the body's mood management chemistry are linked with anger, aggression and hostility in women," according to a University of Pittsburgh study. "The results counter some common beliefs that women are to blame for their hostility. And genetic tests for anger could help predict a woman's likelihood of other anger-related diseases." Women who had greater tendency toward aggressive and angry behaviors had lower levels of serotonin in their system.

The only way to get past something that leads to crankiness, is to begin to work against it. And, believe it or not, your actions can even change genetic make-up. It will take some focus and work on your part. So here goes...

Antidotes for Crankiness

Find rewarding activities Most people enjoy relaxing, playing a game or listening to music. If you intentionally include activities we enjoy during the day, you are less likely to revert back to moodiness or aggressive responses, even if you are on a diet. Preferred rewards might include something other than food, for that "feel good" sensation. By diverting attention from diet or things you "can't have" focus your thoughts instead on actions you can enjoy.

Pay Back Sleep Debts "Tacking on an extra hour or two of sleep a night is the way to catch up," says Lawrence J. Epstein, medical director of Harvard-affiliated Sleep Health Centers. "For the chronically sleep deprived, take it easy for a few months to get back into a natural sleep pattern."

When banking extra hours, lengthening the hours and intensity of your sleep are critical. Your most refreshing sleep occurs during deep sleep. And when you sleep more hours, you allow your brain to spend more time in this rejuvenating period.

Create a Pleasant Workplace To avoid toxins in a work place find workers who model characteristics you desire to see more of: good listeners, collaborative team player, welcoming to diversity, and caring of others. "Imagine a workplace that builds more on people’s strengths, Dr. Ellen Weber says, "and you’ll be staring down problems that prevent growth." Tap organizational brainpower to energize productivity on the job.

Delegate tasks effectively You can choose to keep on this path or go by a new road map. At work you can avoid "doing it yourself to have it done right," by learning to effectually delegate tasks, according to Gregory P. Smith. Start by determining what you will delegate, clarify the results you want to see, define responsibilities, communicate authority over the delegated task and set a timeline. To prevent problems, plan a series of follow-up meetings. And, to avoid having the whole delegated task dumped back on you, stick to the delegation program.

At home, enlist family help by explaining how you feel. Create a list of chores that need to be done and have the family sign up for the jobs and offer plenty of praise and thanks for jobs well done, followed up by a reward system.

Do the opposite The more you work in an opposite direction to problems and stress, the more you will rewire your brain for the opposite and build new habits that work in your favor. Here are some starters:

• If you wing your days, what if you used daily targets to organize time effectively?
• Rather than vehemently expressing your thoughts, what if you stepped back and replied with honesty, yet very respecting of the other person? Serotonin, the chemical hormone for well being is emitted through respectful tone. Dangerous levels of cortisol come with poor tone.
• Instead of putting challenges aside, what if you were to team with others to solve them?
• Before letting metamessages roll out of your mouth, what if you plan to be welcoming, grateful, and encouraging of others?
• To find an alternative to busyness, what if you schedule some activities you enjoy, while you cut down on others?
• If things distract flow on the job, what if you listen to classical or ambient music as you work?
• When you tense up at work, what if you practice progressive muscle relaxation?
• Rather than sitting too much, what if you begin to exercise in ways you enjoy? Exercise keeps you mentally alert and physically fit.

Choices are yours. Create a "what if" solution to overcome your problem with stressors.

Rewire beliefs and actions We can actually rewire our brain by choosing new beliefs and actions, according to Dr. Bruce H. Lipton, even if we were born with genes that tend toward anger, hostility and aggression. "The new biology reveals that we ‘control’ our genome rather than being controlled by it," Lipton finds. Because of the brain's great capacity for plasticity, we can rewire by practicing activities that bring more serotonin to our lives to experience the calm, and contentment we desire.

Where to from here? The last phase of the MITA's five phases is to reflect so you can adjust what's not working well and change it. Find out what works best as you "play" with several of these to overcome a cranky habit. The brain leaps to novelty, so why not be free to change-up what you do as you work to overcome crankiness?

Thoughts?

More to Wegmans Fresh Cinnamon Raisin Bread than Meets the Eye!

Ever wake up with a desire for fresh cinnamon raisin bread to go with your coffee?  I did this morning. Ellen Weber, raved about Wegmans freshly baked cinnamon raisin bread at least twice in the last two days.  The thought of it kept playing in my mind.  I could almost taste it...

So I headed to the nearby Wegmans.  After scouring the shelves, no cinnamon raisin was evident.

I caught a baker's attention and asked if they had any cinnamon raisin bread in the oven.

"We don't right now.  We're all out," he smiled broadly.  "But I'll bake some and have it ready for you in 40 minutes.  Promise to come back?"

"You bet I will."

"I'll have it for you then," he promised enthusiastically.

Four plump, round loaves graced the shelf upon my return.  As I selected one, it warmed my hands, when I picked it up.  I caught the attention of the baker and thanked him as I signaled "thumbs-up."

Wegmans employees go out of their way to assist customers.  Their smiles and welcoming greetings make shopping pleasant.  No wonder Wegmans Food Markets rank third on the Fortune 500 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2010.

Five reasons employees like working at Wegmans:

1. Wegmans reaches out to the community  Wegmans serves the local community  providing employee scholarships that help improve their skills.  These are open to any employee who wants to compete.  Wegmans provides at-risk, urban youth with skills they need to succeed, part time work and work-site mentors through the Hillside Work Scholarship Connection.  Wegmans taps peoples' gifts and talents in ways that propel them forward.
2. Employees are challenged to surpass customer expectations daily. They're rewarded by many customers like myself who sing their praises to others.  The human brain leaps to solve problems and find solutions.  When firms like Wegmans empower employees, like John Schaub, the baker at the Perinton store, to go the extra mile, both employees and customers are winners.
3. Career opportunities are open to all  Employees can rise to new positions through options for personal growth and professional development.  People raise their abilities by "doing and learning, not by watching and reading," according to J. Robert Baum, Director of Entrepreneurship Research at the University of Maryland.
4. Benefits rank high for both part time and full time employees in spite of a tough economy. Wegman's offers flexible scheduling, a fast-paced fun environment, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits including quality health care, dental coverage, 401(k) retirement savings plan, and a retirement plan amongst many others.  When Wegmans rewards workers, it leads to greater satisfaction and well-being in the workplace.
5. Diversity is welcomed as an opportunity  Wegmans sees diversity as a way to inspire new thinking, which supports their drive toward continuous improvement.  This is a key to brainpowered leadership.

As Ellen Weber and I shared this delightful bread, we each enjoyed more than one piece!  But, a lot more brainpower went into it than meets the ordinary eye!

Thoughts?

Unexpected Elixer

Yesterday, after two taxing meetings, it was cool to come home and discover an email announcing that Brain Based Biz listed as number 11 for Business Leadership Blogs, 2010. Incredulous!

I knew nothing about Awarding the Web and Online MBA rankings and had no idea who nominated me. But, it worked as a surprise elixer. Fact is, I almost deleted it thinking it might be the kind of snake oil @mikefixes discussed with @ellenfweber and me today over lunch. But, before deleting, I checked it out and decided to accept the honor. It encourages everything I do on Brain Based Biz.

If you've had a similar experience, to find an unexpeced elixer that lifts up your work, it brings much well being. Now you see more of how the brain chemical serotonin, operates to benefit you.

Plants Enhance Workplace Well Being

Does your workplace environment nurture your mind?  It can.  If your office has both a window view and/or plants, you can cut down on stress and anxiety.

Many recent studies on job satisfaction reveal that workers who spend more time in offices under artificial light, or in cubicles with no outside view, report reduced job satisfaction. Light also decreases stress levels, and plants offer nature's dividends to your work environment.

A manager friend described going to a local nursery, picking out colorful potted plants and putting one on each employee's desk, first thing in the morning.  Smiles erupted all around and he noticed more productivity, that day.  Fresh potted blooms and plants in your office can your serotonin level.  Think of doing this as a serotonin tap for yourself and others, if your manager or supervisor doesn't.  The addition of many plants can enhance well-being for all and make people feel better at work.

In particular, Jonathan Kaplan, points out that plants have been shown to...

• Lower blood pressure (systolic)
• Improve reaction times
• Increase attentiveness
• Improve attendance (at work and school)
• Raise productivity (at work)
• Enhance well-being
• Enrich perceptions of the space
• Lower levels of anxiety during recovery from surgery
• Boost job satisfaction

Helps me to think twice about including fresh plants in my office.  You?

Indoor plants at work also improve the air quality by removing pollutants, in addition to boosting creativity and productivity, in addition to improving comfort levels according to Smith and Pitt's article published in the Journal of Corporate Real Estate (2009).  Smith and Pitt argue that indoor plants have potential to alleviate sick building syndrome symptoms. 

I need all the serotonin taps I can get throughout a work day.  Hmmm...  my next outing is to the nursery!

Gratitude: 5 Tips to Generate More

Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty. - Doris Day 

Birthdays lead me to reflect and realize amazing wealth in money can't buy.  If I measured my wealth in money - it's infinite and abundant.

Had you ever thought gratitude makes a difference in your happiness?  Gratitude is listed first in a list of five things that make you happy.  Being optimistic, counting your blessings, using your strengths and committing acts of kindness follow gratitude.

Expressing gratefulness:  gratefulness needs expression to make a difference.  What are some of the ways you express thanks to others?  Here are 5 for you to consider:

1. Expressive writing is one way to practice gratitude.  Dr. Steve Toepfer tried an experiment with students in his class.  He asked student volunteers to write letters of gratitude to people positively impacting their lives. Students wrote a letter every two weeks with ground rules that it had to be "positively expressive, required some insight and reflection, was nontrivial and contained a high level of appreciation or gratitude."

"I saw their happiness increase after each letter, meaning the more they wrote, the better they felt," says Toepfer, who also witnessed improvement in participants' life satisfaction and gratitude throughout the study.

2. Pay gratitude forward: A kind act often is what makes us grateful to others.  For instance, when I first started blogging, Ellen Weber, Brad Shorr and Servant of Chaos were three people who took time to comment on articles.  That encouraged me.  As a result, I began to pay it forward by commenting on many other blogs.

3. Reconsider lack of gratitude to family and people close to us:  At times family members get the brunt of our emotions because we take them for granted without realizing it.  But, what if we were to think of ways we are grateful for them?  "See if it's possible to notice and get in touch with helpful, supportive ways in which your family has loved you," Jonathan Kaplan urges.

4. Gratitude fills your glass half way:  It's up to us to make it full.  Good news is that gratitude increases levels of serotonin, a brain hormone, which flows through your brain, and increasing your well-being.  "Grateful thinking—and especially expression of it to others—is associated with increased levels of energy, optimism, and empathy."  Pouring serotonin into your glass at daybreak makes sense.

5. Embrace your job through gratitude:  Begin by reviewing the "sweet spot" of your day.  For example a physician, "eased his professional struggles with a positive trick of the brain. 'Every morning when I start my internal rant against the ridiculous requirements of my new practice group, I force myself to STOP and picture one patient I feel I helped the day before. That soothing image brings my stress level down enough to get through another day.'"

Next time I waken, "cranky," I'll work on shifting gears by thinking of something meaningful from the day before.  Hmmm...  I'll even write a note.  You?

Coffee Delivers Surprising Paybacks!

Coffee aroma gives your brain a soothing wake-up call. Does a drink of coffee help your day start well? Just the scent can soothe frayed nerves and one whiff's often enough to reverse the woolly feeling in your brain if you didn't get enough sleep. And this is just a prelude to coffee's symphony of benefits.

Just the pleasing aroma's enough to prompt your brain to release serotonin, a chemical of well-being.

Drinking coffee delivers more advantage to body and brain than once thought. Here're surprising ways your daily java makes a difference:

Protects against breast cancer

Lowers death rate from heart disease when you drink 4 - 6 cups a day

Can decrease the risk of dementia/Alzheimer's disease (AD) later in life

Reduces risk of liver cancer when coffee consumption is high [4 - 6 cups a day]

Drinking Decaffeinated Coffee Regularly Linked to Lower Diabetes Risk

Helps prevent cavities

Who would have guessed that a simple beverage like coffee and even it's aroma would bring so much benefit?

Here's a way you can benefit workers and growers at the same time you benefit: buy fair trade coffee.

And you can be good to the earth as you add coffee grounds to a compost pile. The grounds, relatively rich in nitrogen, provide bacteria needed energy to turn organic matter into compost.

In fact, waste coffee grounds can deliver an inexpensive, abundant, and environmentally friendly source of biodiesel fuel for powering cars and trucks.

What are you waiting for... can't you smell that cuppa now?

Writing Lessons from Social Media Community

Can you pare the essence of a whole article to 140 words in Twitter? Or, do you rise to the challenge of listing 22 distinct tips to assist your readers to overcome daily stress? No matter your topic, writing's like serving a banquet to readers. And the way you set your table makes a difference. For instance...

If the same dishes appear on a banquet table, day after day, people tire of them. So one way to overcome that -- write though the lens of your eight intelligences. Ellen Weber, first taught me about multiple intelligences and captured my mind about ways all eight can improve my day. Not only do I work to use most of them in a day, but I also frame many blogs through intelligences. A writer might choose to focus on numbers, playing with words to get best active verbs, choosing an image to express an idea and relying on that more than words, challenging readers to ask good questions on the brain, writing through a work problem to gain understanding, discussing ways nature impacts job performance, sharing tips on physical activity to boost brainpower, and using music as it connects to the brain. Using different intelligences for blogs is like serving unique dishes for each banquet. Thanks to Ellen, I've gained greater skill.

Brad Shorr, Gavin Heaton and GL Hoffman visited my blog first and encouraged me. From Brad I learned to consider humor as I wrote. He introduced me to Scrambled Toast his blog that focuses mainly on topics that roused laughter. Twitter through History gives you a taste of what produces a great belly laugh. Often I thought of ways to write belly laughs, too. With a great writing model like Brad, who could fail, even for a belly laugh?

Gavin's a person who loves culture. He often shares perceptions the average person would not think about. Just to give you an idea, here's how Gavin pictured me and my work in a post he titled, It's All in the Mind. Now if you don't think that's a lift for a fledgling writer and blogger!

GL's another blogger who uses the lighter side to express the serious side of work life. I loved his approach and his goodwill to me, which spread a taste of fresh honey to many days.

Because of encouragement early on, I became more aware of people who visited Brain Based Biz. Lisa Gates of 360 Alliance swaggered in with very fresh approaches to writing, much like Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing the Bare Bones. She was short, to the point and had intriguing angles for every article she posted. For example, How to Launch a Revolution in Your Evolution.

Having the right tools makes or breaks your message since they set it apart from the crowd. Drew McLellan launched a New Blogger's Toolkit challenge and invited readers to share the tools they use to construct their work. I began to use these as part of message construction and often go to Drew's Marketing Minute to get more insights. In addition, Drew led the initiative for Age of Conversation 2, a book with many bloggers' contributions including mine.

To learn more about creating good comments, I suggest you visit Jeanne Dininni's Writers' Notes. Jeanne adds high value when she responds to readers at her site or yours. She raised the bar for me so that I wanted to lift my skills as I create comments.

To value and encourage readers, I've learned much from Karen Swim at Words for Hire. She has a very generous approach to other bloggers. Generosity and courtesy go hand-in-hand with content. Is this a winning formula for you?

I never cease to be amazed at the writing challenges Robert Hruzek posts monthly, which he titles, "What I Learned from..." One challenge that really led me to dig deep was, What I Learned from a Government Deportation Notice. This helped me get launched in memoir writing... a way to start building a little book that shows more about my life.

Joanna Young, Confident Writing, lifted my writing skills in oh, so many ways. She often challenges me through tips, since her in-depth strategies rouse my curiosity. Joanna builds blogs from readers' comments. As I watched the process, I began to do likewise and played around with zoning out and readers' solutions for times this happened to them. It's something like trying out different spices in a casserole you're making. You have to have some grounding in the spices and so that you try the ones that will enhance the dish.

Joanna, I keep asking how I might enhance the banquet for readers. You presented a tempting Group Writing Project by focusing on Writing Lessons. There are oh, so many things to think about in preparing a banquet table: the menu, arrangement of foods, choice of serving dishes, color, including plates, napkins and even tablecloth. Plus, on the tip of your mind you zero in on how you'll spice foods, and even the kinds of drinks that work well with a focus on Irish cooking, for instance.

Joanna introduced me to Rosa Say at Joyful Jubilant Learning. This gave me an opportunity to participate with others who are part of this community. Rosa offers different learning themes each month as a focus for guest bloggers. I rose to the challenge to write about life experiences as well as a book review for her blog. Guest posting helped me grow more confident as a writer, too.

Friends from social media, thanks. Thanks not only for raising writing skills but, spreading a whole banquet of happiness, too. Is that your experience? Happiness is contagious through social media friends, according to Harvard and University of California researchers. Sure spreads serotonin my way. Interestingly, I never imagined that I would learn so much from readers as well as new research on the brain as I write blogs. Though I expected to pick up tips, I didn't realize how many would come. What a bonus!

What blogger assisted you to spice your writing most and in what way?

Stress - Buster or Builder?

When a friend lost gobs of hair and the only option was to wear a wig during a stressful time, I began to see how much stress can change your well-being. Most of us have no idea what damage stress does to our body. If I were to ask, you could easily tell me what usually throws you into a state of stress. You'll also be surprised at the variety of ways stress affects the human body...

Stress impacts

Heart - increased beating of the heart people experience when in stressful situations is just one part of the body's response to stress, something often known as the "fight-or-flight response". Another component of the fight-or-flight response is the suppression of pain, also known as stress-induced analgesia.

Mental stress puts an added burden on the heart, too.

Immune System - stress makes people more susceptible to illness

Circulation - Negative emotions - depression, anxiety, hostility, anger - cause stress and are linked to atherosclerosis, or thickening of the inside walls of the coronary arteries. Thickening of these walls can slow or block the flow of blood to the heart and brain, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Mental well-being Work stress leads to five major categories of stressors. These include exposure to critical incidents, job dissatisfaction, perceived organizational unfairness, discrimination and lack of cooperation and trust. Both perceived and actual work stress correlates with adverse psychological, physical and behavioral outcomes.

Brain Stress shuts down learning and memory.

Belly Fat Stress can lead you to eat comfort and junk food which lead to belly fat. This build-up of belly fat's dangerous to circulatory system and heart as well as your brain.

Are you running on a business treadmill as Chuck Blakeman describes? Not too surprisingly, the average person deals with at least 22 stressors in a day? More cortisol is excreted into body and brain of folks who take the brunt of stressors and Dr. Ellen Weber shows that often we often work against ourselves if we fail to work against stress daily.

Interestingly, Ellen Weber claims the best stress buster is to find ways to bring more serotonin, to your day.

Several folks on Twitter reported what works best for them to relieve stress. Not too surprisingly, each of these works to bring serotonin. You'll see several of my suggestions, too. Since there are 22 stressors in a day, it makes sense to list 22 stress busters to work against it so that you have a fully packed tool kit to work against it.

22+ Stress Busters:

Pet or play with your cat or dog - The stroking and closeness can bring a feeling of comfort. Canadian Christine says petting her cat always lowers her high blood pressure.

Take a break, go to a quiet place and palm your eyes for 60 seconds. Gina Kay says, "Palming" is a relaxation technique. "Upper part of palm goes on eyes, little finger/ring finger tips touch @ forehead middle."

Take a walk - Ulla Hennig says walking's the first thing she does when she feels stressed. She asks what made her feel stressed and what she might do to avoid it.

Get into Cardio Exercise - Brad Shorr recommends 30-40 minutes on a stationary bike, outdoor biking, swimming (Not all at the same time).

Plan for brainpower boom - Ellen Weber suggests that if we find ways to put brainpower to work to find solutions to things that stress us, we'll work with rather than against our brains.

Pray and meditate - Take time to read scriptures and pray.

Listen to Relaxing or inspiring music - Music can quickly move your brain waves to bring you calm. If you are not in a situation where you can quickly access it, whistle or hum the tune in your mind.

Grow plants Tending plants bring peace and nurture the mind. Try growing some in your office an additional benefit is that they bring more oxygen to your environment, too.

Play a game that's fun Choose a game which does not turn your competitive mode up to high or this, too can stress you. I like to play Quiddler, Set or Scrabble inside or golf every chance I get when it's nice outside. What're your favorites?

Cook something to share Cooking takes your mind off other things as you concentrate on mixing just the right ingredients. Part of the delight is seeing others enjoy the fruits of your labor. Hmm... is that banana nut bread that I smell?

Write in your journal - Pick several different environments over a months time to change your perspective each time you write

Sketch an idea - You prime creativity when you put ideas into pictures [doodles]. In this case why not doodle three stress-busters you have in mind?

Write a haiku - Honor someone you respect at work. They could use the praise and as you put the haiku together, you're concentrating on good qualities you admire.

Run from negativity - Some folks are just more negative than others. Have you noticed that when one negative is expressed, a Niagara Falls flood of them tumbles out? Best way to get yourself out of such situations is to begin to get into groups where people focus on possibilities and solutions than getting mired down in problems only.

Laugh at yourself - Take yourself less seriously and begin to laugh at your foibles, your age, your height or hair. Family of a dear friend of mine wrote me to tell of the news of her death. They mentioned that they laughed at her funeral and that she would have enjoyed that. Fact is, I have never seen anyone who had the capacity she did to laugh in dire circumstances.

Volunteer - I belong to Rotary International so that I can participate in meaningful volunteer projects for the local community and city. In this way I give of my talents to benefit others. It brings you much serotonin when you give to others.

Encourage others - Meaningful words of encouragement go a long way to boost another person's day. They boost your day too, even more than you might realize.

Smile and look others in the eye - As you intentionally smile at another person, it helps lift their spirits. It's also fun to see how many smiles you receive in return.

Ask someone to lunch - If you pick someone you don't know all that well, such as a new neighbor or colleague at work, it gives you an opportunity to get to know them in a casual environment. Try it and you'll benefit.

Read a book - a book can help you concentrate on a variety of characters or historical people in very different settings than your own. In essence, you enter a different world

Work with Financial Planner - Get some new tactics to deal with whatever situation you may find yourself.

List solutions to work problems - Brainstorm these and jot down one word for each in several circles on a paper. Select the ones you think will work best and go to or write email to appropriate manager or supervisor with your nuggets of wisdom. Possibilities are well received by leaders and they will note the leadership you take as well.

Take a role in local theatrical - preparing for a performance can boost your creative skills in unique ways. Invite friends to come and see the final production.

Sing with karaoke - By singing inspiring music such as, "I Have a Dream," your brain picks up this message through several of your intelligences. If you tend to sing off key, do it at home, but if you find you have a great voice, blossom out by having a karaoke party.

Dance to music you like - Whether tap, ballet, clogging, ballroom or line dancing, as you move your body to music you enjoy you build a lot of serotonin through both the music and exercise. If you don't currently do this, take a few lessons!

Give a loved one a hug and say you love him or her - Often we take for granted the people closest to us. Give them a nice surprise by taking just a few seconds to do this. And look them right in the eye as you do. It does much boost your own spirit.

Leave room and run up stairs - If you find yourself in a toxic meeting, excuse yourself and run up and down stairs a few times. This exercise brings oxygen to your brain quickly and gives you enough space to be able to think of a professional approach to handle what is hard to cope with as you return to the meeting.

Do you have a stress-buster tool kit? If you don't what might you suggest to bring more well-being that I might have overlooked?

Put Fire to Your Feet!

What if you had plenty of fire in your feet, what might you do?

Think fast - rapid-fire thinking can boost energy and mood.

Play hard - By scheduling play that's fun, you'll actually get more work done.

Stay cool under pressure - Move quickly to perform tasks you can do well, such as teeing up and hitting your golf ball or taking an exam in a subject you know well. If you think too much, you take your focus away from what you already know and do well.

Play a video game - Fast-paced video games can improve your mental dexterity, boost hand-eye coordination, depth perception and problem solving.

Dance with fervor - Move your emotions into motion to boost your vitality!

So what will you do with more fire in your feet today?

Christmas Blues? 10 Tips for New Melodies

"I'll have a blue Christmas without you.
I'll be so blue thinking about you.
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't be the same, if you're not here with me.

And when those blue snowflakes start fallin'
And when those blue melodies start callin'
You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white,
But I'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas."

Maybe Elvis, Celine or other artists revive lyrics and blues that press a replay button in your mind.... You now focus on events which change the scope of Christmas 2008 at your home. Stop right there!... Consider your focus. The human brain picks up on focus and soon surges with memories or prophetic fantasies you create.

The more you or I listen to Elvis's blues... we're upping the ante to build a blue Christmas. The more we set our sights on negatives, the more the chemical cortisol seeps in and blues take on darker shades. Not too surprisingly, cortisol, a chemical hormone in your brain, pushes against relationships, courage, solutions, and general well being. Want to play a new melody? You can reset your tunes and your celebration.

10 Tips for New Melodies

1. Attend Christmas Eve service This brings your entire focus to the true meaning of Christmas and bolsters your intrapersonal intelligence, too. Chat with others afterward and make new friends.

2. Invite neighbor(s), friend(s) or single parent with kids to spend Christmas with you It's not too late and can bring an unforgettable day for all. Bringing folks into your home and preparing the meal helps overcome loneliness. In the spirit of Christmas, you give yourself to others. No better way to rev up your interpersonal intelligence.

3. Volunteer at food kitchen Attendance spikes at Christmas so you can assist in a variety of tasks. Volunteering is giving a gift of yourself in a fresh new way.

4. Sing with carolers You'll be singing whole new tunes and having fun with others. Replay these tunes in your head as you try new approaches to the season.

5. Adopt a pet Give yourself a trusty, but different friend. Get acquainted on Christmas day!

6. Buy inspirational book to read Reading creates new images to mind and alters focus.

7. Hike, Snow Shoe or Ski Exercise that takes you outside quickly increases blood flow to the brain and connects you to nature in ways that freshen your spirit. At the same time, you fight against seasonal affective disorder caused by low levels of melatonin.

8. Write encouraging letters Reconnect to friends and family with positive encouragement. A personal, handwritten letter sends a treasure. Only you can create this unique gift and it gives back to you as well... many times with surprising results.

9. Volunteer at homeless shelter or hospital Give folks that that hurt right now can your gift of help or inspiring conversation.

10. Choose foods wisely Comfort foods may bring small comfort momentarily, but can eventually erode health. Avoid snack foods, carbs and soft drinks with sugars. "Just say no" to alcohol. Eat small portions which include items from a Mediterranean diet or other wise food choices. Drink plenty of water, too.

Choose what works best for you to bring new focus to potential Christmas blues. Even without the blues, you might find new purpose as you play a new melody for Christmas this year. As we give to others, we bring more serotonin to our lives. Serotonin's a brain chemical that enhances well-being as we reset our iPods with new tunes.

Thanks Joanna Young for bringing an unexpected Christmas greeting this year - a true Joyful, Joyful! Joanna donated money to the Marie Curie Cancer Care Charity which provides free nursing care to cancer patients and others with terminal illnesses and sent to my mailbox. Truly an inspiring melody!

Are you resetting your playlist this year?

A Dash of Humor Ups Performance and Creativity at Work

When you hear a funny story or quick-witted line as you launch another day at work, what happens? Perhaps a belly laugh, good feelings about colleagues, a positive spirit or relief from a toxic work environment. Here're three bonuses humor brings...

1. Creates more camaraderie in teams and departments... "The ability to appreciate humor, the ability to laugh and make other people laugh actually has physiological effects on the body that cause people to become more bonded," Chris Robert of MU' College of Business, finds.

2. Stirs your creativity... A dose of humor releases a flow of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin helps you to find well-being... to think clearly, solve problems more objectively, step beyond rigid thinking, change your point of view...

3. Improves performance... humor brings relaxation and an upbeat mindset which enables you to get past workplace toxins that stall you in the trenches. Recent research shows a strong link between positive emotions humor brings and optimal performance outcomes.

Ellen Weber explains how humor makes a difference for you and folks working near you...

Humor’s good for business because it releases enzymes into the brain and opens new spaces for learning, giving and for enjoying what you do. It’s also good for expansion … because people gravitate to humorous people, and research shows they like to do business with people who can laugh at themselves.

Laughter works best when it's light and witty. For instance, laugh at yourself to relax a room, make a play on words, tell a funny anecdote.

Recommended links that show how to use humor to increase creativity and productivity at your work:

Frank Roche at Know HR: Humor and the Work Team: Healing, Harmonizing, and Harnessing Morale, Cooperation, and Productivity

Drew McLellan at Drew's Marketing Minute: M&M capitalizes on a myth

Ellen Weber at Brain Based Business - 10 Tips for a Belly Laugh at Work

Workplace Office Buzz: Workplace Humor - Uniting and Dividing

Barbara Rozgonyi at Wired PR Works: Funny Business PR Why Don’t Companies Use Cartoons in Their Marketing?

Brad Shorr at Word Sell: Funny Companies with Serious Performance

GL Hoffman at What Would Dad Say: Your Resume Headline Should Get My Attention, First.

Here're a couple of quotes for your thoughts...

I haven't got the slightest idea how to change people, but I keep a long list of prospective candidates just in case I should ever figure it out. David Sedaris

Tell me what you laugh at, and I'll tell you who you are. Marcel Pagnol

Try humor... what difference has it made for you?

Audience: Lurkers and Commenters

Increasingly, more businesses tune in to blog readers' online habits and experiences. To learn more, UC Irvine researchers' conducted a first-of-its-kind study that focuses on blog reading. They open new windows into ways readers identify their roles in social media. Many bloggers are interested in their audience since they seek interaction or wish to extend conversations.

Findings show some readers frequently post comments, while others "lurk" or visit without commenting...

What makes a blog a blog? Readers opinions vary. Academics commonly define blogs as frequently modified Web pages with dated entries listed in reverse chronological order. On the other hand, people participating in this research named RSS feeds, trackback links, social aspects, including conversation or personal content.

Bloggers might consider these findings when writing posts:

Regular blog reading often becomes more habitual and less content oriented. Similar to e-mail checking, blog reading can become ingrained into users' online routine. Sometimes, even the usefulness of the blog content itself can be less vital than the activity of reading or skimming the blog to fulfill a person's particular routine.

The timing of a blog post is not nearly as relevant to readers as its position among the other entries. Readers are more likely to read the most recent posts at the top of the screen, and are generally less concerned with the exact age of a post. A vast majority of participants said they were not bothered when they were not able to read each and every blog post, challenging a common theory that users tend to feel overwhelmed by the need to remain constantly up to date.

Blog readers feel a responsibility to make insightful contributions. While past research noted readers expect bloggers to deliver frequent, high-quality posts, the UCI study found readers also place pressure on themselves to produce coherent, worthwhile comments in response to good blog posts.

Lead researcher Eric Baumer contends, "Until the technology embraces the role of the audience, the full social potential of blogging remains untapped."

Positive comments that add to an article or encourage naturally increase a writer's serotonin level. Serotonin is a brain hormone that functions as part of a complex network of neurotransmitters that can boost your brainpower and provide well being. Additionally commenters provide rationale for bloggers to write more and raise the bar for quality.

Social Networking has changed the face of friendships. Do you tend to read posts by bloggers in your social network before venturing outside? I do. I'm also more likely to leave a comment. You? As I unearth gems in the blogosphere, I comment when I discover insights to mull over.

As a blogger, connecting to audience is all important for me and comments are like the rose colors in a sunset... since they show me some measure of success.

Thoughts?

Want to Ratchet Up Your Networking?

Ever wonder how to promote your business or blog well without "being in someone's face" as you market or network? Darren Rowse, ProBlogger, compiled a comprehensive list of strategies for both novices and those with some expertise who want growth. I don't know about you, but I have a way to go and I see savvy tools I want to try. Here's just a summary of Darren's ten suggestions in, How to promote your Blog through Networking

Be Generous - Be a giver and not a taker. Help others acheive goals, encourage them and go out of your way to work on their terms.

Don’t Expect too Much too Quick Let relationships grow naturally as you build trust and mutual understanding.

Look for the B-listers Approaching slightly less known bloggers can pay off because these bloggers are more likely to connect and still drive a lot of traffic.

Prove Yourself First People want to see of you're going to stick with it and that you really know what you are talking about. Show you're in it for the long haul and that your blog is making a contribution to the niche.

Persist But Don’t Annoy There's a lot of noise around the blogosphere so don't be offended if people don't respond - try again in a little while - but don't stalk.

Look in Neighboring Niches Networking with people outside my niche can be fruitful. Another way to be strategic is to not look for networking opportunities just with other bloggers on your topic - but with bloggers who share a similar demographic of reader.

Ask Questions When you become a person who asks others about their goals and objectives, where you know what their strengths and weaknesses are and where you know their dreams you not only create a good impression on them but you’ll be in a great position to know where your situation aligns with another person’s - this is where networking becomes most effective.

Become a Go-To Person and a Connector Attempt to draw others into the relationships you have. I find that people are particularly grateful to me when I can’t help them but point them to someone else who can.

Have an Elevator Pitch Develop a few key sentences that describe who you are, what you do and what you offer others. Another good elevator pitch is on what your blog is about. Having thought through these things will help others understand what you can bring to a relationship - but they will also help you understand that too. These can be used in email conversations.

Look for Points of Synergy I’ve found the most profitable relationships to be ones where there was a ’spark’ or ‘energy’ around our interaction - particularly where there was some sort of synergy around goals and objectives but also some sort of a connection when it comes to personality.

I would like to add two tips based on the way your brain operates.

Use People's Names Ever notice that when you use a person's name their eyes light up? Our names are important to us and when you use another blogger's name, rather than just adding to a converstion, you add to the recognition of that person. This triggers the brain horomone, serotonin to flow, and adds to their well-being... expecially when you encourage.

Specifically Name What Others Do Well You can add to the flow of serotonin just mentioned, by naming what another blogger does well. Several blogging friends make a practice of this through links to other people's good work. Such links put weight to their words.

What gems to do see in Darren's list for blogging or business? What would you add?

The Power of Thanks

If I awaken cranky, and say thanks for the good in my life, it changes the nature of my day. Have you ever experienced that? Thanks touches the spirit of others and yours, too - when it burbles up from the heart.

Others say it so well...

Psalms of the Bible: "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound."

G. K. Chesterton: "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."

Tecumseh Shawnee Chief: "When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself."

Dale Carnegie: "Try leaving a friendly trail of little sparks of gratitude on your daily trips. You will be surprised how they will set small flames of friendship that will be rose beacons on your next visit."

Pam Thomas reviewed Deborah Norville's book, Thank You Power. Saying thanks improves your thought process, reduces stress and increases your daily happiness. Here are Deborah's nuggets...

1) Being thankful for the things you already have helps you to positively manifest more of the good stuff.

2) Counting your blessings helps to shift your attitude and raise your energy level.

3) There is always good in every situation, even the bad situations. Look for the good, as there is an awesome learning experience to be had.

4) Being kind to others definitely has a boomerang effect.

5) Doing something nice for another helps to raise your self confidence and how you feel about you.

21 Day Challenge I enjoyed Pam's challenge for the next 21 days to say thank you for at least five things in your life before your feet hit the floor and each night before your head hits the pillow. Then make note of what happens.

Thanks brings well-being to your day... since it brings more serotonin, a brain hormone of well-being. By saying thanks, you can not only launch a better day, but boost your brainpower, too.

Writing a letter of thanks makes a powerful difference. University of Michigan Professor, Chris Peterson, assigns students in his class to detail the kindnesses of someone they've never properly thanked.

"Read this letter aloud to the person you're thanking," Peterson says, "and you'll see measurable improvements in your mood." Studies show that for a full month after a "gratitude visit" (in which a person makes an appointment to read the letter to the recipient), happiness levels tend to go up, while boredom and other negative feelings go down.

Joanna Young, thank you for the challenge of writing with power.

Brad Shorr, thanks for your kind gift to me because I was the 1000th commenter on your blog, Word Sell.

Folks, I'd enjoy hearing how thanks touched your life during a work day...

Bloopers for Belly Laughs on a Stressful Day

Do your words really convey the message you want?

Think twice about putting words together! Just a few words out of place can make folks double over with a belly laugh over your blooper! Here're ten side-splitting examples!

1. Here's 150 Resume Mistakes, Bloopers and Blunders to check out...

2. Newscasters caught saying the wrong thing

3. Dave Letterman presents the Top 10 Bush Bloopers on video...

Remember when Bush said, "The left hand doesn't know what the right hand's doing," and he held up the wrong hand?

4. Courtroom Bloopers - yes, it happens often. For example...

Q. Doctor, did you say he was shot in the woods?
A. No, I said he was shot in the lumbar region.

5. Doctor's blooper

A man speaks frantically into the phone, "My wife is pregnant, and her contractions are only two minutes apart!"
"Is this her first child?" the doctor queries.
"No, you idiot!" the man shouts. "This is her husband!"

6. Student bloopers listed in the Chronicle of Higher Education Forums:

This semester, my student plans to do a report on Salvador Deli. I can't wait to hear about the surreal sandwiches.

“Sudden death occurs when the weekend heart valves fail.”

I guess the weekday heart valves take time off.

7. Bloopers in ads

At An Auto Repair Service Station:

Free pick-up and delivery
Try us once, you'll never go anywhere again.

8. Bloopers in Classifieds

1 man, 7 woman hot tub -- $850/offer

Amana washer $100. Owned by clean bachelor who seldom washed

Free puppies...part German shepherd part dog

9. Doctor Charting Blooper:

From the physician's notes about a first-time pregant, newly admitted OB patient: "Patient is a 26-year old primate."

10. Dan Quayle at his best...

Press: Mr. Vice President, if you were to suddenly become President, do you think you would be up to the job?Dan Quayle: If such an unfortunate thing were to happen, yes, I believe I would be.San Jose Mercury News (3/31)

In a given day people laugh less, just when the brain needs more... I know a good laugh can turn around a mistake and put me back on course... How about you?

Laughter can quickly change your mood, especially if you're uptight and frustrated on a work day. Here's how that happens...

When you spot or hear or a blooper, Serotonin, a chemical that brings well being, is released in your brain. Serotonin changes your perspective. Be sure to give yourself a dose when you find yourself in a pinch.

Brad Shorr's having a writing contest to win an iPod nano and this blog's my entry.
He'll have a random drawing if he gets 10 entries... Want to give it a go?

Check out Word Sell, where Brad Shorr offers tips to use words with flair...

So, get your brain dendrites rolling, and let's see what you create....

When Anger Spills Over

No matter which nostril anger snorts from -- venting and rage too often smoke us out. How so?

Anger's not subtle! Expressions of anger appear daily in media - like yesterday's campus shooting. Teens and children hear angry dialogue as they play war-like video games. Bratz dolls reflect pent up anger. How can men and women cope on the job when emotions peak to the top?

What way do you cope when frustration rises to the boiling point?

Hold anger in - Builds pressure that needs to be be expressed - arouses the nervous system.

Vent to express it - Tends to increase intensity of the feeling but does not solve the problem. Often it's a misguided approach to control a situation. But, anger feeds on itself... Aggression leads to irreversible damage to people in the vicinity.

How does anger affect you physically?

Blood pressure rises

Eats away at your cardiovascular system.

Stops your brain's capacity to think clearly

Interestingly anger is one emotion men consider okay to display. However, they often don't respond well when other men show it.

On the other hand, women are generally socialized to conceal anger.

Very often, people simply do not learn to manage anger suitably.

Since anger causes your brain to release cortisol, a chemical that works to increase stress and frustration, it remains with you for about 20 minutes. How can you learn to pull back initially when anger's ugly head steams to use strategies that counteract it? You can counter cortisol by choosing tactics that help your brain release serotonin, a hormone of well being.

Suggestions to pull back and help your brain begin to release serotonin:

1. Take several deep breaths and concentrate on them.

2. Hum a tune that quiets your soul. Music can move your brain waves and help change your focus.

3. Leave the meeting, go to another place and grab a bottle of water, Pepsi or cup of coffee. Go outside and concentrate on something in nature that captures your fancy.

4. Get quick exercise, such as running up stairs, taking a brisk walk or stretching all your muscles.

5. Doodle a picture representing something you enjoy.

Suggestions to manage anger...

1. Write down the cause of your anger on one side of a paper. On the other side, jot three solutions to the problem. Think of how you will discuss with the other party and do it. The only way you'll lose is to do nothing and let frustration fester.

2. Share your feelings with a close associate or friend you can trust. Talking about it often helps you see new solutions. They'll offer suggestions, too.

3. Name the situation that caused your anger, describe your feelings and ask people involved to help bring a solution for you.

4. Let go of things beyond your control. Your anger does not resolve problems and if it's beyond your control, let it go. Letting go isn't easy so each time it comes to mind, mentally see it blow into the air as do dandelion wings.

5. Get professional help if you're continually angry and you can't let it go.

Care to distance yourself from the smoke? What does your best extinguisher look like?

A Conference in East Koy Four Corners, the Center of the World!

Someone searched for "East Four Corners International Conference" and located my story, East Koy Four Corners - My Home Town. Now that really made me laugh and as I thought more, the real humor welled up from tongue-in-cheek claims my husband, Carl, made about East Koy...

East Koy Is the Center of the World... Though my grandmother migrated from Denmark to Australia and my mother and I are naturalized US citizens, to think East Koy is the global center, makes me laugh. And when we return from a trip, Carl often says, "We're back to the center of the world." How do you determine the "center of your world?" It would be interesting to hear from you...

"I'm the Mayor of East Koy" Not only does Carl feature that East Koy is the "center of the world," he named himself as the "Mayor of East Koy"... When you consider that we might have a total of about 30 people living in the area of the Four Corners, that's a real lark! But, the neighbors picked up on Carl's claim and name him as the Mayor, mainly out of going along with his wit and a respect for him. Do you ever claim something for yourself with great imagination?

And your brain changes with laughter... since more serotonin, a hormone of well being flows through your cranium! When you can laugh at yourself, you can really turn things around... It's a real secret to creating well-being for all those around you... besides it's so much more fun.

In the vein of imagination I'm using ideas from musing in the middle zone, serving chaos, filling up my glass, designing my writing life, writing with more confidence, using more of my brain, thinking unconventionally and what Dad would say, as I tune up my emotional intelligence to learn more joyfully and jubilantly...

Ready to laugh at an incongruity, too?

Happy New Year to Brain Based Biz Commenters

As 2008 opens, my cup is overflowing with appreciation for commenters on Brain Based Biz. I'm honored that you asked and answered tough questions, shared thoughtful insights and stepped up to the challenge of tags. Thanks from my heart.

To launch the New Year, I want to celebrate you... When we celebrate, Serotonin is released in the brain, which brings you and me more well-being... And may you find much to celebrate in 2008!

Al at 7P Productions

Albert at Urban Monk

Alina Popescu at WOBM

Alon Ben Levy at .:::A* World - The World is Flat:::.

Alvaro at SharpBrains

Amy Jussel at Shaping Youth

Andy Beard at Andy Beard

Anna Farmery at The Engaging Brand

Angela Maiers at Angela Maiers

Anita Bruzzese at 45 Things

Anna at My Only Photo

Anne at Brandsizzle.com

April Groves at My Beautiful Chaos

Arun Rajagopal at Arun Rajagopal

Bob Brucker at Plan-b Going to Market and Ahern & Brucker

Bob Glaza at One Reader at a Time

Brad Shorr at Word Sell

Cafe_Cafe at Entretenimiento Online

Cam Beck at Chaos Scenario

Carma Dutra at Carma's Window

C.B. Whittemore at Flooring the Consumer

Char at Essential Keystrokes

Cheh at Moderately-Confused

Cheryl Stephens at Building Rapport

Chris Brown at Branding and Marketing

Chris Cree at SuccessCREEations

Chris Kieff at Unconventional Thinking Blog

Christian at Christian Fernandez Alvayay

Christine at Create Business Growth

Comedy Magician at Hagerman the Magician

Cord Silverstein at Marketing Hipster

Danica Radovanovic at Belgrade and Beyond

Daniel Sitter at Idea Sellers

Dave Olson at live the GREAT life you desire!

David Airey at David Airey

Dawud Miracle at dawudmiracle

Dean Bennett at The Business Garden

Debbie Call at Spirit in Gear

Dennis Bjørn Petersen at The Beta News

Diogenes at Fine Art of Blogging

Donna Karlin at A Better Perspective

Douglas at Service Untitled

Douglas Karr at The Marketing Technology Blog

Drew McLellan at Drew's Marketing Minute

Mrs. Durff at Durff's Blog

Edith Brown at Jeteak Press Writer Blog

Elizabeth Perry at Woolgathering

Ellen Weber at Brain Based Business

Erin at Jenny and Erin

Ev Nucci at My Life is Murphy's Law

Frank Roche at KnowHR

Franxbudi at Secret of Mind

Galba Bright at Tune Up Your EQ

Gavin Heaton at Servant of Chaos

GL Hoffman at What Would Dad Say

Howie at Performanacemanagementcenter.com

Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei at Eye on DNA

Jack Payne at Con Man's Blog

Jackie Cameron at Jackie Cameron

Jaime at Fitzgerald Analytics

Jason at The Most Authoritative Technology Blog

Jaya at Cat on my Head

Jaypee Habaradas at Jaypeeonline: Blogging News & Reviews

J.D. Walton at Black in Business

Jon at Smart, Wealthy, Rich

Jeanne Dininni at Writer's Notes

Jeremy Jacobs at Corporate Presenter

Jim Stroup at Managing Leadership

Joanna Young at Confident Writing

John at Interesting Health Articles

Kare Anderson at Moving from Me to We

Karen H. at Stop/Start and The KISS Business

Katie Chatfield at Get Shouty

Laura at Writing Thoughts

Leo Cussons at Work Connexions

Leon at My thoughts...on stuff

Lisa Gates at Design Your Writing Life

Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Lucid at Ask Lucid

Lynda at Essential Estrogen

Maki at doshdosh

Mark Rapp at Uniquely the Epitome

Maria Palma at Salon de Maria

Mark Goren at Transmission

Mark K at Common Sense with Markk

Matthew Cornell at Matt's Idea Blog

Matt Owen at US Rodeo Supply

Meikah Delid at CustServ

Mel Kaye at Attitude, the Ultimate Power

Michael Michalko at Creative Thinking

Michelle Milay Carter at Mission Minded Management

Mike Sansone at ConverStations

Mike Wagner at Own Your Brand

Mikster at Reality is Over Rated

Mr. & Mrs. Money at Virtual Entrepreneur

Olivier Blanchard at the Brand Builder blog

Paintsmh at Buckin Junction

Patrick Schaber at The Lonely Marketer

Paul Enderson at reflections

Paula Neal Mooney at Paula Neal Mooney

Peter at I Will Change Your Life

Peter Chen at Blogger Tips and Tricks

Phil Gerbyshak at Make It Great!

Priscilla Palmer at Priscilla Palmer.com

Reg Adkins at ElementalTruths.Com

Rick Cockrum at Shards of Consciousness

Rob at Good Advice

Rob O. at 2Dolphins

Rob Watts at Yack Yack SEO

Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings

Roberta Rosenberg at The Copywriting Maven

Roger von Oech at Creative Think

Rosa Say at Managing with Aloha Coaching

Sean Jeating at Omnium

Shantanu at Traveller's Tales

Scott McArthur at McArthur's Rant

Steve Roesler at All Things Workplace

Sue Olson at MOMeorganizer

Suma Valluru at Σsµmz Math Tutor for Kids

Susan Cartier Liebel at Build a Solo Practice, LLC

Tammy Vitale at Women, Art, Life: Weaving It All Together

Tara at graphic design blog

Terry Starbucker at Ramblings from a Glass Half Full

Timothy Johnson at Carpe Factum

Toby at Diva Marketing Blog

Todd and Michael Morales at Team Ideate

Todd at We the Change

Tom at TRCoach

Tom Vander Well at QA QnA

Tony D. Clark at Success from the Nest

Travis at Young Go Getter

Valeria Maltoni at Conversation Agent

Vanessa Byers at Venessa: Unplugged!

Visakha at Vedic Maths India

Wendy Piersall at eMOMS AT HOME.com

May each of you find blessings in 2008...

In the New Year I can extend even more well-being by acknowledging commenters on a monthly basis. That will bring top commenters the high recognition you deserve!