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Time to Cut Loose

December 3, 2008 in blogging, community with 3 Comments

One of the most repeated pieces of blogging advice I have read is that it’s important not to hold back on your good content. I am having a hard time with that lately because on the one hand I am sitting on 3+ weeks of great posts in not-so-rough-draft form, but on the other hand I have said I would be posting Monday-Thursday. If I stick to that posting schedule, some of the thoughts I have in the moment won’t be relevant if I wait for the right or perfect day to share them.

Chris Brogan and others have stressed the importance of having a blog editorial calendar. I’m finding it hard to plan ahead in that structure so that things are still relevant when I share them and so I also don’t feel stifled. When I’m having thoughts like, “no you already have X number of posts ready for next week. Publish that thought later!” it’s time to cut loose.

If this blog is really going to be about me exploring and sharing as opposed to being about me obsessing and responding to traffic data then I need to be more liberal with the publish button. I generally reflect in a working notepad file, but I’m going to experiment with doing that thinking right inside the blog text area. It may get bumpy, or less polished here while I play, but I expect that this freedom I’m granting myself will have me sharing more which I’ll enjoy! I hope you’ll keep questioning, posing ideas in different ways, sharing your experience, and reflecting right along with me in the comments or elsewhere.

All About RSS and How You Can Subscribe To This Blog

November 14, 2008 in blogging, community, social media with Comments Off

Thanks for reading my blog. I’ve enjoyed my my new posting schedule (more of an aspiration really). If you haven’t already, I encourage you to subscribe in the sidebar. You can subscribe using an RSS reader, or you can receive the posts in your inbox by putting your email into the box in the blog side bar, or type it into this box here and click subscribe.

But what is RSS?

RSS or Really Simple Syndication enables you to subscribe to the content of many websites or blogs so that you can more easily keep track of them without visiting the sites directly. Basically you can receive the posts of many different blogs in an interface called an RSS reader that feels a lot more like email.

Huh? Well maybe the good folks at Common Craft explain it better than I can. They make a living clarifying Web concepts like RSS in fantastic videos like this one on RSS in plain English.

Nifty. It turns out only about 11% of internet users make use of RSS (LINK) so now you are in the know :)

My RSS reader of choice is google reader because I enjoy a lot of the extra features Google has baked in and some of the customizations I have found from various developers and Google itself.

Shortcuts. Shortcuts make the world go round and google reader has a lot of shortcuts many of which are similar to google’s own gmail shortcuts which I also use.

Sharing. One of the most useful features of google reader is the ability to easily share something you enjoyed with everyone connected to you in the reader. You can even include comments that will be included with the post itself when your friends go to see what you’ve shared with them. The feature automatically culls from your list of gmail contacts to determine who is also sharing on the system, though you can customize sharing as well. Even cooler is the fact that you can literally share anything via google reader even things you aren’t subscribed to by using the sharing notes bookmarklet.

Search and sorting. Like most google products, reader is powered by search so I can find articles easily even if I only a few phrases from the content stick out in my memory. You can also and view the reading list in alphabetical order or view only new items. There is also and All Items view that gives you the option to see things in one river of news the way Robert Scoble describes.

So please subscribe to the RSS feed (by RSS reader or email if you prefer), keep sharing your feedback, and if you enjoy something you see here please do share it with a friend.

Announcing a New Blog Posting Schedule and Comment Policy – Kicking Myself in the Pants

November 10, 2008 in blogging, community, social media with 23 Comments

I feel like I need a big jumpstarting kick in the pants. Here goes.

Almost a year ago in January, in my first blog post I said I was throwing my hat over the wall.

The sentiment is that sometimes the only way to achieve a goal is to commit yourself entirely. Within the analogy the desire to retrieve the briefcase motivates you to overcome whatever obstacle the wall presents… My hope in starting this blog has been to throw my hat and briefcase as far into the void as I can, setting my aspirations high, so hopefully I’ll learn something retrieving them.

Going after those aspirations has been so gratifying and I have learned so much in the process. Since January I’ve taken two great classes in Computer Science, read and processed a ridiculous amount of new information about social media and its potential to foster social change, built accounts and poked around on virtually every social networking site developing a presence for myself in different online communities (follow me on twitter if you’d like), and had the opportunity to contribute and grow in the online division of a dynamic philanthropy services consulting firm.

Why the Kick?

I felt I had to highlight my successes to put things in perspective, but looking back I think I’ve fallen a bit short in terms of launching myself over that wall. My aspirations were too broad and my goals for this blog so indefinite that posting got scary and I got lazy.

I’m not sure that announcing a regular posting schedule makes posting any less scary, but it definitely injects some accountability into my thinking, since the schedule is public and hopefully people will be visiting with the expectation of seeing my new minty fresh posts and ideas. I’m also going to be emailing contacts this week to let them know about my blog and new regular posting plans so that’s even more accountability.

Posting Schedule

As of now I will be posting to Meshugavi Blog 4 times a week, Monday-Thursday.

I’m not writing this in stone, of course, and I expect to sometimes post on other days, post more than once some days, change things up occasionally, and fall off the wagon too. Despite all that, I’m setting this goal and you can hold me accountable (avi[AT]avisamkaplan[DOT]com for complaints).

Commenting Policy

I really appreciate your attention and time. There are many sites where I participate by being a lurker and rarely commenting, but I want to encourage folks and give a plug for commenting here. While I’m happy you find my thoughts worth reading, I want to hear your thoughts too, so please share that reflection, questions, thought, or idea that pops into your head. If you’re reading this in an RSS reader log Google Blog reader remember that your missing any conversation going on in the comments unless you visit the site itself occasionally and if you’d like to comment you can easily click the post title to get to the comment box.

Aside from that invitation, it goes without saying that you should be civil to other commenters and myself,  refrain from spamming, and I reserve the right to moderate or suspend comments if I feel the need.

See you back here tomorrow!

photo by by Bill in Ash Vegas

Blogging at onPhilanthropy at Changing Our World: CW not COW

November 6, 2008 in blogging, social media with Comments Off

Since moving to Washington DC I have been working at Changing Our World, Inc. a philanthropy consulting company. Part of my work in the Interactive Services department has enabled me to contribute to onPhilanthropy, a content network of news, jobs, and thought leadership in the philanthropic sector.

Aside from helping to administer the site I have also participated in the Future Leaders in Philanthropy group (FLiP), helping to administer the group’s blog and the FLiP Facebook Page. I actually owe this job to my attendance at a FLiP on Tap networking event in New York when Mike Hoffman, the company CEO, singled me out in his speech for having introduced myself to him. Just goes to show that it pays to put yourself out there with a dose of confidence.

I highly recommend onPhilanthropy to anyone looking for interesting articles or blogs relevant to the philanthropic sector. Most of the content is syndicated with RSS as well if you want to subscribe. Also, feel free to check out my posts to the onLine blog there in which I get the scoop on the Digital Media and Learning Competition in an interview with Cathy Davidson and David Goldberg, and another exploring the ways twitter is being used to drive social action.

Blogging Procrastination, Perfection, and Permission to be Human

June 25, 2008 in blogging with 6 Comments

While blogging I often feel that I want a post to be just right. This has even led me to put off posting something for so long that the content is no longer relevant and I’m forced to abandon the post entirely. Time is precious and timing important so why do I waste so much time over thinking?

awesome esher remix

Deadlines

I got thinking about this again from a post by Tim Ferris on profitability. In his 11th tenet he discusses the importance of deadlines -

“11. Deadlines over Details – Test Reliability Before Capability:
Skills are overrated. Perfect products delivered past deadline kill companies faster than decent products delivered on-time. Test some one’s ability to deliver on a specific and tight deadline before hiring them based on a dazzling portfolio. Products can be fixed as long as you have cash-flow, and bugs are forgiven, but missing deadlines is often fatal. Calvin Coolidge once said that nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent; I would add that the second most common is smart people who think their IQ or resume justifies delivering late.”

His thinking about products informs my sentiment about deadlines in blogging. I also see a tie in to the Positive Psychology principle of the permission to be human.

Mistakes and Risk

Part of the reason many people are reluctant to hit the publish button is that we are afraid of making mistakes. But mistakes are part of learning! As J.K. Rowling said at my commencement earlier this month, if you aren’t making mistakes, you probably aren’t taking enough risks. Michele Martin, a nonprofit blogger I look up to, posted recently about her desire to take more risk in her professional life. Coincidentally she links to a different but also relevant post by Tim Ferris about big goals.

In any case I have realized that I want to be less of a perfectionist in my blogging and give myself permission to make mistakes. My goal has been to become consistent in my posting and I will never achieve that regularity if I rethink every step I take. Have you noticed yourself setting the bar at perfection or avoiding risk at the expense of growth? In what way? Any advice on how to avoid this trap?

photo by fdecomite

Mather Bloggers and Web Scribbles From Other Friends

April 24, 2008 in blogging, community with Comments Off

here-come-the-bloggers
photo by Brett L.

Now that I seem to have gotten a jumpstart on my own blogging I thought I’d pass on the love to other blogger friends. Some of these folks are writing up a storm while others haven’t posted in ages. Maybe they’ll take this as a cyber kick in the pants! Haha guys – *kick

Mather Bloggers Unite!

Ty has been blogging up a storm on her site No Room to Sit. She posts almost daily and shares some crazy awesome photos she’s taken as well as bits about her life as a Mather gangster.

Malin posts some funny stuff and I could see getting lost in her blog during reading period. She seems to have picked it up more recently. Hurray!

Tej and Greeny’s Shadoworkation site (a pun on Banta’s own SummerWorkation project) seems to have stalled with the last post actually having come from Tryo Murrell. Maybe they’ll pick it up when they get this kick in the pants! KICK KICK! KIYAI!

For completeness sake I’m including the Mather Consortium Art Gallery (Mather School of Hard Knocks) even though I have no idea who ran it – probably Banta. Maybe Hoco could take it over? Or representatives from CHI, REP, DAPA, and other programs could post helpful tidbits on it.

Former Matherite Lena Chen recently started blogging again at the chictionary. The site is super clean in design and it’s also seemingly a step in that direction from her last site as well.

Blockmate Bloggers

Tegan, Faon, and Ieva all used to blog. Though it’s now almost a year and a half since their last posts, they’re adventures were awesome and everyone should totally check out their out of control craziness. Plus as we graduate and get to gallivanting, missing Mather, and spending summer in Alaska (or before then) it’d be cool to hear what’s up with each of these wonderful ppl again and now you all know where to go to listen! KICK!

Judy’s not really a blockmate, but dating Josh she may as well be one. She is an intensely interesting and wonderful person and I wish I could spend more time with her. You can read some of her ideas and such over at btdub.

Other Folks

Adam and I go way back to middle school. I used to date his sister and next year he’ll be at Penn Lawschool (Congrats Adam!). He shares mosly political and current events stuff and is intensely dedicated to the cause of getting a Democrat back in the White House baby!

If I’ve called you out, don’t feel called out! I just thought some ppl would benefit from seeing your writings, if you start writing more too that’s only gravy. Also, who have I left out from the Mather/Harvard circle who’s blogging out there? Obviously there are innumerable blogs, but please use the comments section here to share one or two you enjoy reading, or just to give a shoutout anyone I’ve mentioned.

Reader Appreciation Day: Blog Contests and Giveaways Galore.

April 23, 2008 in blogging, community with Comments Off

A week ago I won $15 on Amazon as part of a giveaway from Michelle Martin for Reader Appreciation Day. Thank you Michelle for running the giveaway and for continually enagaging your readers and making us a priority. There is always a lot of great discussion over at her blog and I have gained a lot over time from Michelle’s insight so if you haven’t seen her Bamboo Project Blog yet, be sure to check it out.

A comment to the post announcing the winners from Robin Reagle, who initiated the idea of Reader Appreciation Day, got me thinking:

Hi Michelle, I think it’s cool that in addition to being unacknowledged readers–as far as I can tell–neither of the winners are bloggers themselves. It really speaks to the meaningfulness of your work. Thanks for this wonderful project.

Posted by: Robin Reagler | April 16, 2008 at 08:14 AM

For one thing I feel a bit sheepish that I forgot to include my url in the comments. I also don’t feel that my actually being a budding blogger diminishes from Robin’s point. Encouragement from more experienced writers like Michelle is what’s gotten me off my duff in the first place to start to share my own thoughts, so again thanks Michelle!

I’ve been formulating some thoughts about the impact of giveaways more generally recently. I’ll post more on this tomorrow, but right now I’m interested in what you think?

Can giveaways foster community? Have you found success using them yourself? What was the response?

Throwing My Hat Over the Wall

January 29, 2008 in blogging with 8 Comments

In his Harvard course on Positive Psychology, Tal Ben Shachar talks about the idea of throwing your briefcase over the wall. The sentiment is that sometimes the only way to achieve a goal is to commit yourself entirely. Within the analogy the desire to retrieve the briefcase motivates you to overcome whatever obstacle the wall presents. In the last episode of the first season of The West Wing, President Bartlett references the same idea though the imagery there is of soldiers throwing their hats.

My hope in starting this blog has been to throw my hat and briefcase as far into the void as I can, setting my aspirations high, so hopefully I’ll learn something retrieving them. In this exploration I aim to document some of my discoveries, learn more about my disparate interests – the web, social media, and fun tech tools and nonprofits, social entrepreneurship, history and psychology. With any luck I’ll learn something about the intersection of these two worlds and meet some interesting people along that way. Feel free to get in touch or just say hi, I’m friendly :)