First of all, I never really got the hang of the laptop keyboard. I like the numeric key portion of a standard keyboard and use it a lot, every single day. I know where the digits are much like touch typing. Entering numbers across the top is so strange for me. So yeah it’s a habit and I don’t see a reason to break it.

Second, I like working at a desk. Many people love working from their couch or bed or any place that is not a desk or office space. For me, the desk and office keeps me centered, focused. I’m working. The couch is for relaxing, enjoying the family and when I’m at the park. I’m at the park having fun.

Third. It could also be partly because of what I do. If I were a writer or a graphic artist, I can certainly see why it would be great to work on a laptop. You get inspiration to write or draw out in the sunshine and fresh air. But me, I need to have multiple tabs and browsers running to check for cross-browser compatibility, I run a web server to develop applications and test them and I need to be constantly connected to the Internet to look up code, find solutions, test a web site, constantly uploading and downloading.

Yes, the laptop can do all of that but often with less muscle and I cannot stand waiting around especially when you’re testing applications, you want feedback quickly so you can tweak or fix issues right away. In our office, we build our own desktops and we often build it to very high specs to last us a couple of years and we build in plenty of fans to keep the computer cool. To build something of the same configuration on a laptop would cost a fortune and with the packed configuration, limited space and all that, a laptop is just not meant to work hours on end like a tower can. It builds heat too fast, putting it on a cooler feels awkward or the fans are too loud. And heat, is a computer’s worst enemy.

I think that’s why many fellow entrepreneurs find their laptops failing long before time. Because it’s put to work for too long. I know new technology now the laptops today are miles ahead of the ones in the past. I admit that but they still aren’t the work horse a desktop is meant to be.

And a Mac? Yeah, I do have an old Powerbook. It started making crazy noises only after a year. Granted it is nothing severe – I think it has something to do with the sound card or the speakers but the guys at the Apple store couldn’t help me and told me to send it to California. Well… I think I’ll pass. I am pretty disappointed with it though considering the hype everyone gives you about Apple. One day I will get another Mac replacement, after that last incident, I just can’t say when.

Meanwhile, this home built PC of mine has been chugging along faithfully, over 2 years, getting on 3 years now. It’s still fast, robust and kicks butt.

Image by keela84

I’ve just come from reading a forum thread. A struggling entrepreneur has asked for help. Let’s call him Mr G. You can tell by the choice of Mr G’s words, he is more than a little anxious. Nothing new there. We see this happen all the time on countless forums all over the Internet and social networks. Reading through the fantastic advice given by other experienced members of the community, I couldn’t help but think wow! This is great stuff.

But sadly in his replies, Mr. G although thankful for the attention and help, doesn’t seem to actually hear (or see) what people are really saying. Whenever a good idea to help him comes up, he replies with something like,

Thank you, you’re right, I wish I could find an opportunity like that

or

Thanks, but I can’t do that because…

or

Thanks, but can it really work? – this asked of people who are living and walking proof that it can and does work

It is because of those responses, I feel the NEED to write this. Last week, I had a revelation. It’s been a while since I’ve had one so I’m definitely ready and so thirsty for one and I am absolutely glad it came at this time. Part of the revelation is the absolute truth that what you focus on grows.

Here is great advice, freely poured onto Mr. G but he doesn’t really hear those suggestions at all. He’s too busy listening to the negatives. What he really hears is,

• I am not fortunate enough to find that opportunity
• I can’t do that because my situation is unique
• I don’t believe I can
  

When others are showing him how he can and giving him ideas where to find the opportunities.

You know, I can somewhat relate to Mr. G. I am by nature a pessimist, skeptic and a loner. Whoa! Talk about a load of negatives. It is unbelievably difficult to think of anything positive when you’re in a rut where all you can see is the but’s the can’ts and the why-mes. As a matter of fact, I was totally there 2 weeks ago and have just now begun to snap out of it. Why?

Because I don’t want the negatives to grow anymore than it has. It’s a monster as it is. It must stop there. There’s a lot of uncertainty facing us all the time but probably more in recent times than ever. And you know what?

I fear the negatives growing more than I fear the uncertainty.

If you’ve ever watched the show Nemo, remember how Dory and Marlin were stuck in the whale’s mouth and Dory said the whale told them to go to the back of the throat. Marlin replied, “Of course, he wants us to go there that’s eating us!” Later, as they were hanging on to the tongue about to fall down the throat, Dory says, “He says we have to go now and it’s OK, everything will be alright” Marlin asks, “How do you know? How do you know something bad isn’t going to happen?”

Dory answers, “I don’t”

We don’t know. We don’t know if something bad is going to happen. On the same token we don’t know if something good is going to happen. The only way is to hear the positive, believe you can and just keep swimming.

Image by Michael Lorenzo

Did you know that you can pick up free pre-paid envelopes to send your empty ink cartridges, cell phones, PDA’s, digital cameras and other small equipment at your local post office?

Yup. USPS has been working with companies like Dell, HP, Sprint and Sylvannia so soon you can recycle those CFC bulbs too. Check at your post office. From my understanding this is currently at select post offices only.

Ok, so I also happen to be a Country music fan because I love the lyrics of most Country songs. Well The Climb is one that has lately reminded me to keep on going in my business. I think it is a very suitable song for us entrepreneurs. Here’s what part of the lyrics say and listen to the full song. Does it inspire you?

Excerpt from chorus The Climb by Miley Cyrus:

There’s always going to be another mountain

I’m always going to wanna make it move

Always going to be an uphill battle

Sometimes I’m going to have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get there

Aint about what’s waiting on the other side

It’s The Climb

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photo by Richard Dudley

That’s why I didn’t get the chance to write about how I did the Tweetbacks beautifying as I promised you last week. Two clients big stuff going on, one moving systems – that’s always challenging and need a lot of brainstorming. Another one is launching new product and wants to do a dry run next Thursday which means I’ll have to shelve my own projects for a few days.

Thankfully, I’ve been able to put in quite a bit of work on my own stuff this week. Anyhow, just to let you know if I get silent during the coming week.

On another note, you know, I am very thankful for the work load I have. In this economic state where everyone is literally losing everything. My work load has not stopped and in fact has grown. I’ve also been very blessed lately to be able to work with Stephen Pierce’s team on their membership sites. Maybe it’s our industry.

I know this may sound really harsh and not everyone is like that but I told my husband the other day, while *some* of my friends were earning fantastic (inflated?)  incomes and buying all kinds of expensive toys, houses and cars to big for them, I slogged day and night on the computer, often for a pittance. I’ve done my fair share of $0 to couple of cents per hour work building this business. Many thought I was crazy but I know some just thought I was downright dumb.

Now it seems the tables are turning – or have turned. Those same people are now having to live on super tight budgets and things are looking good here. I actually hesitate to say that because I can be quite superstitious and in the Chinese culture, we try not to say good things about ourselves, our business, our families in case we jinx our good luck. But you know, it’s more than just good luck. In many ways I feel I’ve paid it forward.

What about you? Thoughts?

Without your readership, without your questions, your interaction, your support. That is what I’m thankful for… YOU!

So here’s a big thank you. Enjoy your holiday or weekend.

Why shouldn’t most business owners

get into all the geeky stuff?

To that I say, simply because you should concentrate on your core business. If you’re a painter be the painter. If you’re a writer, be a writer. Do what you are good at and leave stuff that you just can’t fit in, totally dislike or just can’t wrap your head around to people who are experienced and can help you. This applies to anything not just geeky stuff.

That said, it doesn’t mean you should ignore technology trends and completely wash your hands off it. If you are a solo entrepreneur who owns a web site, you should at least know a smidgen of HTML. Not talking about being a HTML guru or anything. At least a basic understanding how to read simple HTML, copy and paste codes like affiliate links and affiliate banners, create links, stuff like that. You should also have a general understanding why & how certain techologies like RSS can help your web site.

Just don’t go spending tons of money buying books on PHP or hours researching how to write a script when you have orders to ship and products to make. That is unless you really have an interest and do it ‘on your own time’ i.e. after you’ve done the important stuff.

So Kelly… I’ve always thought you were a little geekier than most and I know that you have quite a few gadgets of your own. How attracted are you to gizmos, gadgets and tech? Is it something you’ve grown in to or fell into?

Recently, I’ve come to dread Monday mornings. I have not felt like going back to work and that little voice in my head keeps saying, “Ugh, it’s Monday already?” It’s been a long time since I felt this way. Since I left my outside job to be exact.

You probably wonder – why should I feel bad? Don’t you work for yourself and set your own hours/days? Very true. When I feel that way, I usually while away my Monday and decide not to work. But that only makes me feel worse.

I believe the whole deal with this is, do not like to work when others are kicking back and enjoying their family. It feels like I’m missing out on the fun and feel resentful. Most people, whether they work for themselves or not, take the weekend off or have a weekend. It really doesn’t matter what day of the week your weekend is, just that you have a weekend.

We all need breaks. It is amazing how much a weekend can do for your mojo as my friend Kelly likes to say. When I don’t have a weekend, I feel sluggish all next week. But when I do, I’m raring to go on Monday.

The weekend is already here. I’m going to make it a point this week to go dark. You enjoy your time off too and we’ll meet again Monday.

"I’m not technical"

It has become sorta hip (it seems to me) to be ‘not technical’. Like a badge that says, "Hey, I’m not a geek, I’m just like everyone else". In the Internet Marketing community, this has become a selling point. I totally understand that. After all, who wants to buy something that is ‘technical’? It has so many negative connotations. Even I don’t want to buy something technical = a lot of work.

That’s not my gripe seriously. What saddens me, is when I hear smart, knowledgeable, capable women hide their geekiness by telling themselves and others that they aren’t ‘technical’. Never mind they may work in tech support, taken a programming course years ago or learnt to build a good old fashioned HTML web site all by themselves.

Maybe it’s because the word can mean so many things. I mean what’s technical to my developer could be like rocket science to me. What’s technical to you may be simple for me. To make it worse, there are all kinds of technical.

For example, I don’t understand computer hardware very well, I don’t consider myself a Javascript/ASP/Windows guru. Yes, I do know more about it than some, but it is not possible for one single person to be proficient in all things technical.

So… why don’t more women admit to themselves they are somewhat or very geeky? Girlfriend, if you are the designated computer fixer in your household you are the techie. Go ahead, give yourself some credit.

GoogleDocs has been around for a while. I’m sure you’ve read about it. I’ve mentioned it several times on this blog itself. But what’s so spectacular about an office suite other than it being online?

This short, easy reading report will show you just how you can use improve your team’s efficiency using GoogleDocs.

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