Well this is a very good week indeed!
One week before Christmas and my man, Josh, gets a half-time contact job! YAY! Pretty much set until the end of the school year in June.
I am also loooving my job! Getting my course content all set up, finalizing and sending out my print materials and starting on the news release. Hopefully, I get lots of people signed up for my class (Social networking for small businesses in February and individuals in March). I have so much flexibility and feel confident I've created a great class and am very excited to get going!
Sign-up every one in Brant County! Connect online, share, grow, explore...just sign up for my class! :)
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Marriage Shmarriage
Perhaps it's because of my upcoming wedding that I'm noticing all the celebrity and non celebrity divorces lately...but then again maybe not.
I've been hearing a lot of stories about divorce lately and frankly, I don't get it. Isn't marriage the sacred commitment you and your true love make? A pledge to be together for the rest of your lives? Through good times and bad times, sickness and health? So why all the divorce?
I partly believe people are lazy. I also believe our society has lost it's romance. Men used to be gentlemen and women were ladies. Car doors were opened and intelligent discussions about life were had between couples. Sex wasn't even a possibility until after marriage and now it's as important as his smile. Marriage was a mutual understanding and agreement before friends, family and God to 'go through this together'. Now, marriage has just become 'the next step' in a relationship and isn't taken as seriously. I also think a great number of girls just want the wedding and aren't ready for marriage. But why now?
The average age for couples to start having children is now 25, it used to be 21. And, the average age for marriage has increased as well to 31! Already people are having children before they're married and think nothing of it. That's fine, to each their own. But if we're older and 'more mature' why is the divorce rate still so high? We've been able to choose our post secondary education, our housing, manage credit cards maybe have children already and start our career, so why can't we manage a marriage?
I am very crazy in love with my finance, Joshua. Like fire burning intense love, can't live without him love. Although I know our life together will not always be peachy, there will be really hard times and times when we want to kill each other. But they will never last long because we share such an incredible love. We both understand that love is the most important thing we can share and as long as we have that, nothing can truly be that bad. This is our life; we're in it together and I want it to be the happiest and best life it can be. :)
So sit down, listen to each other, talk about it. Your new goal in life is to make your partner the happiest person on earth and if they already are, well done and congrats on your happiness!! If it's not working out, talk, go to counseling or you likely just need to calm down and love each other!
For many, I think that's all it takes.
Happy lovin!
I've been hearing a lot of stories about divorce lately and frankly, I don't get it. Isn't marriage the sacred commitment you and your true love make? A pledge to be together for the rest of your lives? Through good times and bad times, sickness and health? So why all the divorce?
I partly believe people are lazy. I also believe our society has lost it's romance. Men used to be gentlemen and women were ladies. Car doors were opened and intelligent discussions about life were had between couples. Sex wasn't even a possibility until after marriage and now it's as important as his smile. Marriage was a mutual understanding and agreement before friends, family and God to 'go through this together'. Now, marriage has just become 'the next step' in a relationship and isn't taken as seriously. I also think a great number of girls just want the wedding and aren't ready for marriage. But why now?
The average age for couples to start having children is now 25, it used to be 21. And, the average age for marriage has increased as well to 31! Already people are having children before they're married and think nothing of it. That's fine, to each their own. But if we're older and 'more mature' why is the divorce rate still so high? We've been able to choose our post secondary education, our housing, manage credit cards maybe have children already and start our career, so why can't we manage a marriage?
I am very crazy in love with my finance, Joshua. Like fire burning intense love, can't live without him love. Although I know our life together will not always be peachy, there will be really hard times and times when we want to kill each other. But they will never last long because we share such an incredible love. We both understand that love is the most important thing we can share and as long as we have that, nothing can truly be that bad. This is our life; we're in it together and I want it to be the happiest and best life it can be. :)
So sit down, listen to each other, talk about it. Your new goal in life is to make your partner the happiest person on earth and if they already are, well done and congrats on your happiness!! If it's not working out, talk, go to counseling or you likely just need to calm down and love each other!
For many, I think that's all it takes.
Happy lovin!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Too much Secret Santa
Christmas 2010 is unlike any other Christmas I have experienced before. Usually during this time of year I would be away at school, waiting until the last possible day to leave my parent-free life behind for two weeks to come home and visit with old friends and family.
Last year, Christmas 2009, I was away in Korea for the year and spent Christmas day on holiday in Cambodia where I fired automatic weapons and explored the Killing Fields on December 25th. This year, not only am I not away and coming home for Christmas, I live at home with my parents and cannot escape.
My freedom is lost and my independence punched in its face.
Now that I'm at home, working three jobs and around friends whom I haven't seen much of over the last number of years...everyone has decided to have a Christmas party.
So...what do I get everyone? Most of these parties are 'Secret Santa' parties where everyone brings a gift and everyone gets one. I am also attending one where names are drawn and only you know who to buy the present for. My issue is now...what do I buy? They all have a $20 limit which is good for my wallet but requires a creative mind. Also, I don't know the people I have to buy for! One is my fiance's male 20 year old cousin and the other an accountant at the tattoo shop I work for and see once a week.
HELP! The internet is helpful with ideas but being so close to Christmas, these things wouldn't arrive in time if ordered. So it's more of a list of cool things you could've gotten if you started planning earlier.
I love Christmas, it's my favourite time of year, but buying presents for people I barely know seems rather silly to me. It's not a thoughtful gift, it's not an expensive gift, it's just something for you to open because I had to get you something. Maybe a new type of Christmas party would be fun. Or just Christmas games and activities. DO we really need more stuff?? More things to add to our shelves or use and throw out? Maybe try something new this year...spice it up by NOT having a SS party! :)
Last year, Christmas 2009, I was away in Korea for the year and spent Christmas day on holiday in Cambodia where I fired automatic weapons and explored the Killing Fields on December 25th. This year, not only am I not away and coming home for Christmas, I live at home with my parents and cannot escape.
My freedom is lost and my independence punched in its face.
Now that I'm at home, working three jobs and around friends whom I haven't seen much of over the last number of years...everyone has decided to have a Christmas party.
So...what do I get everyone? Most of these parties are 'Secret Santa' parties where everyone brings a gift and everyone gets one. I am also attending one where names are drawn and only you know who to buy the present for. My issue is now...what do I buy? They all have a $20 limit which is good for my wallet but requires a creative mind. Also, I don't know the people I have to buy for! One is my fiance's male 20 year old cousin and the other an accountant at the tattoo shop I work for and see once a week.
HELP! The internet is helpful with ideas but being so close to Christmas, these things wouldn't arrive in time if ordered. So it's more of a list of cool things you could've gotten if you started planning earlier.
I love Christmas, it's my favourite time of year, but buying presents for people I barely know seems rather silly to me. It's not a thoughtful gift, it's not an expensive gift, it's just something for you to open because I had to get you something. Maybe a new type of Christmas party would be fun. Or just Christmas games and activities. DO we really need more stuff?? More things to add to our shelves or use and throw out? Maybe try something new this year...spice it up by NOT having a SS party! :)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Social Media Marketing- Best practices for new users
I consider myself to be a pretty tech-savvy person who picks up new software, programs and applications with ease.
These past two weeks I've been diving (head first) into the realm of social media from a business-use perspective and WOW! Not only are there a zillion different programs like Facebook, Twitter, Digg and LinkedIn but there is a wide range of tools, like Hootsuite, to help you manage your different social media accounts.
B2C and B2B marketing has never been more interesting then in this technological age. The ease and precision of finding what you want, following who you want and sharing that with everyone you've ever met is all possible at the click of a button.
With all this technology and multiple social accounts, how can businesses possibly know what to do? For small businesses this is a huge learning curve all the way from using a computer to building an online profile and presence. Below I've listed some information about social media best practices so you can reach your target market, engage them and grow together:
Research and build a 'social media road map' including your audience, objectives, strategy, tactics, tools/technology and metrics.
Successful online social media practices involve listening, engaging and participation. The old 'you listen, we'll talk' is dead.
Commit resources and time to be successful - You cannot build your profile over night. Developing a strong and trustworthy online presence takes time and commitment.
Be transparent and relevant - No one wants to hear about your 'dog walk' last night or what you ate for breakfast. Give people useful, relevant and trustworthy information they can use and will want to pass on to friends and fellow businesses.
Encourage participation and co-creation- Social media is an online conversation so get in there! Participate! Answer forum questions and ask question back. Let people know you're important in your industry and give them a reason to share.
These past two weeks I've been diving (head first) into the realm of social media from a business-use perspective and WOW! Not only are there a zillion different programs like Facebook, Twitter, Digg and LinkedIn but there is a wide range of tools, like Hootsuite, to help you manage your different social media accounts.
B2C and B2B marketing has never been more interesting then in this technological age. The ease and precision of finding what you want, following who you want and sharing that with everyone you've ever met is all possible at the click of a button.
With all this technology and multiple social accounts, how can businesses possibly know what to do? For small businesses this is a huge learning curve all the way from using a computer to building an online profile and presence. Below I've listed some information about social media best practices so you can reach your target market, engage them and grow together:
Research and build a 'social media road map' including your audience, objectives, strategy, tactics, tools/technology and metrics.
Successful online social media practices involve listening, engaging and participation. The old 'you listen, we'll talk' is dead.
Commit resources and time to be successful - You cannot build your profile over night. Developing a strong and trustworthy online presence takes time and commitment.
Be transparent and relevant - No one wants to hear about your 'dog walk' last night or what you ate for breakfast. Give people useful, relevant and trustworthy information they can use and will want to pass on to friends and fellow businesses.
Encourage participation and co-creation- Social media is an online conversation so get in there! Participate! Answer forum questions and ask question back. Let people know you're important in your industry and give them a reason to share.
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