Juggling, Triage and Honesty

If there’s anything I know about, it’s juggling many balls in my life.  Between being a Mom, working and volunteering, I often have so much on my plate, things risk falling off the edge and getting lost in the shuffle all the time.   This has always been an issue for me, because I like to [...]

Thinking About a Year as a Podcamper

Podcamp Logo
Originally uploaded by Chris Brogan.

It’s been a little over a year since I attended the first Podcamp. Since that time, I’ve been to and spoke at Podcamp Toronto, helped organize and spoke at Podcamp NYC, attended Podcasters Across Borders, was the Lead Organizer for Podcamp Philly, and am currently helping to organize Podcamp [...]

Work Life/Personal Life- Should There be a Difference?

I read a blog post by Eric Olson, talking about trying to figure out if there was or should be a line between “work” and “life”. Eric pointed out that in the past, our customers were also our friends and neighbors. We were our work, but we were also the person next [...]

The Twelve Steps of Volunteering

I’ve been volunteering on one form or another for many years now.  I’ve been treasurer of a Hospital Fund Raising Organization, managing its four businesses and $1.5 million dollars of investments; I’ve helped run charity golf tournaments and silent auctions, book fairs, and even conferences like Podcamp Philly.
I started joking with another friend, Mark Blevis, [...]

Another reason to Switch to Verizon FiOS

This morning, I woke up and tried to log onto my email over at Comcast.net. I had great connectivity; I could get to my gmail no problem, but the Comcast.net portal was not accessible.  The site was down.  Fine, it happens.
When I called to see what was up, I was put into an endless loop [...]

Zen Acorn

Zen Acorn
Originally uploaded by idg.

I was having a stressful moment at Podcamp Philly. CC Chapman was in the car with me. I was trying to find a center, and said something like – “I’m letting go of control. I’m an acorn, floating along- trying to let go of the temptation of [...]

My Home 2.0

I went to an event this afternoon sponsored by Verizon and its new FIOS service. Verizon took over a home in the Yardely, PA community, and did a complete tech makeover of the home. For the big reveal, Verizon had a huge block party, complete with carnival games, face painting, free snacks and [...]

Quick Note: Don’t Scrape Emails

Amember of the  Podcamp Philly community decided to scrape emails off the registration list, trying to solicit business.  I understand this is a temptation to many.  In case it is not entirely clear to everyone let me say ths loud and clear:
The Registration list is public so that the community may register and contact each [...]

The Four Hour Work Week- Letting Go of Fear

On the suggestion of Chris Brogan, I am listening to the Four Hour Work Week.  It’s an interesting book, and I’m about a third of the way in so far.
What struck me about the book is that at first blush, it’s another pitchy, quick fix to all your ills sort of thing, that starts with [...]

Managing People the Un-Way

Organizing an UnConference may seem like a simple thing. Open Source. Group Participation. Everyone working towards a common goal. But in reality, it’s just as complicated as organizing a “real” conference, a book fair, or and event, with a volunteer workforce. (I’ll assume for the moment that paid conference organizers have [...]