Today, I have a guest post up at Sirius Graphix. I’m a little late in linking up- blame it on all the roach spray floating around.

I admit it, I have a love hate relationship with social media.

I know all the experts say it’s important, but I also know it can be a real time sucker. One of my goals for this year is to streamline my social media time.

Social Media Goals

Does this mean I’ll still goof off on facebook sometimes?- you bet. Will I still click that irrelevant yet funny link on Twitter?- of course. I don’t want to suck the life out of my work after all. Even people with office jobs chat with co-workers or eat doughnuts in the break room from time to time.

So, inspired by my social media goals, I found a post by Jay Baer to be most interesting and helpful. It’s titled 11 Mind-Blowing reasons Your Business Needs Facebook (link below). And from a practical standpoint, this post is very insightful.

Disqus and facebook Connect

I recently tried out a new Disqus plugin for comments on Blue Duck- partially because I wanted something better than the standard WP version, and partly because it came up in my research about facebook Connect. Disqus gives readers the option of signing in using a facebook account. It also makes it easy for readers to invite facebook friends to view a post or update a facebook status with a link to the website and the post they are reading.  I’m liking the Disqus plugin very much, and I am also liking what I am reading about facebook Connect.

Jay lists facebook Connect as one of the biggest potentials to come from the facebook craze, and I tend to agree. I was also intrigued to read the statistics he gives about facebook usage and growth trends. I also noticed that I spend WAY more time on facebook each day than the average user. Time to curb those status checking impulses a little better. Thanks, Jay, for calling it to my attention.

11 Mind-Blowing reasons Your Business Needs Facebook (Jay has a very neat website, too. Check it out!  )

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photo credit: ana young

• Ten Search Engines Powered by Twitter from Search Engine Guide, shows that even your Tweets matter to SEO.
• 80 Ways to Use twitter as a Small Business Owner by Lisa Barone has some good tips for getting the most out of your TwitterTime.
• Dragon Slaying 101: How to Use Heroic Language to Battle Boring Copy by Ali Hale made me smile and made a good point, even the most boring drivel can be perked up by a little creative copy.
• In Creative Block #1: I’m Not Creative , Mark McGuinness tells us, ” Forget about ‘Being Creative’- Start Creating“
• Find something to blog about with 100+ SMB Blogging Ideas to Kick Start 2010 by Lisa Barone
• The Launch Coach tells us to stop fussing and start doing business in The Big Secret to Success? Run with What You Have.
• “You can write blog posts from now until doomsday, and if no one reads them, you might as well be picking your nose.” from Jonathan Morrow at Copybloggger.

and… last but not least, I found a nice little video from Chris Lumpkin about landing pages:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, yes, I do write landing page content.

To alleviate the pressure, I have a guest post up today at SiriusGraphix. If you have a minute, stop by and say hi and show some blogging love to the new kids on the block. I’ll be hanging out there all day. I’ll bring the coffee, you bring a smile.

(FYI: I’ll be blogging in the new future about a new endeavor for Blue Duck Copy. Keep an eye open!)

So, this is my contribution, Guy.

Please keep in mind that I am a Registered Nurse, with 13 years of experience in various areas of healthcare. I’m not just spouting off regurgitated news feeds and blowing hot air in your direction.

6 Reasons Swine Flu is Not a Big Deal

The CDC posts an annual report disclosing the leading causes of death sorted by age range. Can you guess what the most common cause of death for all age ranges was last year?

Year after year, unintentional injuries top the list.

You are more likely to die in a car crash than from the flu. In fact, the flu ranks eighth in the list of leading causes of death last year. And that was the REGULAR flu, not the swine flu. There are at least six other things to fear more than influenza A and B.

1. Unintentional Injuries (such as falls, motor vehicle accidents, accidental poisoning)
2. Cancer
3. Heart Disease
4. Homicide
5. Suicide
6. Birth Defects
7. REGULAR Flu

http://webappa.cdc.gov/cgi-bin/broker.exe

The regular old run-of-the-mill flu that many of us get every year is more dangerous than the swine to date.

In 2006, influenza types A and B were listed as the sixth leading cause of death in children ages 1-4, and the seventh leading cause of death in adults over 65. Like most other commonly contracted communicable diseases (other than STDs) the very young and the very old are affected the most. The rest of the population goes on with life mostly unaffected by contracting the flu. The swine flu is no different.  (For more information about last year’s flu outbreak check out the CDC’s website: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/season.htm)

Dreaded Swine Flu Statistics

So far, there has been one death in the Untied States due to the H1N1 virus. ONE!

286 people have been diagnosed with Swine Flu as of today, May 4, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ That means 285 other people have recovered or are in the process of recovering from a miserable week of feeling crappy. They aren’t scarred for life from contracting the swine flu, they aren’t shunned from public places for life, and they don’t have to wear sweaters with a giant “PF” for pig flu around.

What to Do to Prevent the Flu

Wash your hands. This simple act can decrease your chances of getting all kinds of nasty bugs by as much as 90%. You don’t have to use antibacterial soap or hand sanitizer; just normal everyday suds and plenty of running water for 60-90 seconds is adequate. Sing Happy Birthday to yourself while you wash if you like. Just remember to clean your thumbs, wrists, and under your fingernails. Germs like to hang out in these places.

Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. When you’re out in public and can’t get to a bathroom to wash, just keep your hands in your pockets or avoid touching your face. Germs have to find a way into your body in order to make you sick.  Don’t help them out.

Stay out of elevators and confined spaces. If you are in close proximity to someone with the flu, they are most likely going to cough and sneeze. You can get sick from breathing in infected droplets of moisture that float in the air. Staying in a larger, well-ventilated area or even outdoors decreases your chances of infection by airborne particles.

If you have a compromised immune system (e.g. you have HIV, are taking immunosuppressant medications, or are already sick) stay home. Keep newborns at home as much as possible. If you must go out often, consider contacting your physician about getting vaccinated. He or she will be able to give you specific instructions on how to stay well in public.

What to Do if You Get Sick

DON’T PANIC! Most cases of swine flu and even regular influenza never require medical treatment.

Rest often, drink plenty of liquids, and take Advil or Tylenol for the discomfort. Put your tissues directly in the trash. Wash your hands often and open a window for some fresh air from time to time.

Monitor your temperature and call your healthcare hotline or your physician with any unusual symptoms or if you are not improving after 7 days. Antiviral drugs are available to shorten the life of the flu, but are not necessary for most people.

When to Panic

The CDC recommends seeking Emergency medical attention for the following symptoms (which apply to nearly any illness, not just the flu):

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
* Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting

You can learn more about treating influenza from the CDC’s website. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.

The swine flu sounds scary; I’ll admit it. I don’t want to catch anything that came from a sick pig. I live on a farm. Pigs are gross animals. But swine flu is no more of a concern than the regular flu that plagues us all year after year.

Get the facts, wash your hands, and relax.

Life’s too short to spend your days worrying about the pig flu.

These American Christians attend church on Easter and Christmas to take communion, and they volunteer to walk for Relay for Life when asked. Some may even sit in a pew every Sunday and sing in the choir. An ambitious few may help feed the poor and go on missions trips to Africa and China.

American Christians grew up singing Jesus Loves Me, and playing with felt board Moses and Nativity sets. They pray at sporting events and before meals. They were baptized as children and walked the isle to join the church when they were old enough to read and write and follow the rules of the church constitution. They were married in white dresses before an ordained pastor or priest, and they put crosses on the graves of their loved ones.

Religion in Today’s America

We’ve come a long way from the days of Mayberry, R.F.D. Families no longer live behind white picket fences and drive American cars. It’s not cool to speak out against homosexuality In fact, it’s not even cool to say “homosexuality”. The correct terms are “gay men and lesbians”.

Tolerance is a way of life. After all, it’s your body and your life and you have the right to pursue your own personal brand of happiness. But we still believe in Christianity. Just make sure you remember to wear clean underwear when you leave the house, tell your mama you love her, and pray when you get in trouble.

It’s the American Christian way of life.

Seeking Truth

But what does the Bible say about Christianity? Jesus said:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’~ Matthew 7:21-23

Jesus didn’t say some, He said many. Many Christians will be deceived about their salvation.

Christianity= Following Christ

What Christianity is Not

It’s not about going to church.

It’s not about religion.

It’s not about being a good person.

It’s not about how many prayers you say.

It’s not about the music.

It’s not about the way you dress for church.

It’s not about how many Scriptures you can quote.

It’s not even about love (love is not enough to be a Christian).

What Christianity is About

It’s about a personal dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s about believing in Him, trusting Him, and submitting your life to Him. And for most of us, that’s not an easy order to fill.

Walking the isle, making a profession of faith, and being a good person is not enough to make you a Christian. There is no such thing as “Fire Insurance” for your soul. It’s all about Jesus Christ.

Judas knew Jesus, he did good works in the name of Jesus Christ, yet he still wasn’t saved. He looked good to everyone around him, but he still missed Jesus as the central element of true religion.

Pastor Perry Noble asks the question: You go to church. Are you still missing Jesus?

Do you really know Jesus? What about that person sitting next to you on Sunday morning? Do they need a personal introduction to Jesus Christ instead of American Christianity?

Are we living in an age of Christless Christianity?

The deception runs deep in our churches. Your local church pew is the new missionary field. Are you willing to introduce your family and friends to Real Christianity?

Show them a better way of life. Show them Jesus.

photo credit: Nessa Land

One of our life-mottoes here at Blue Duck is that relationships matter. In fact, we believe life is all about relationships, everything else is just fluff or icing on the cake. That doesn’t make us relationship experts, or even mean that we get it right all the time. It just means that we expend considerable energy on improving and maintaining personal and professional relationships.

For those who don’t already know, I’m in the process of getting my Master’s Degree in Psychology in my spare time. In my studies, we took a look at Carl Jung and his theory on personality development, and I wanted to share that experience with you.

In my former life as an RN, I was responsible for providing a monthly inservice for employees, and I often chose to present an overview of differing personality types. When reading about Jung’s theories, I was instantly intrigued by the similarities and differences in Jung’s views when compared to what I had taught. So, I took the Carl Jung and Isabel Myers-Briggs typology test to see how I would score according to Jung’s categories. I was shocked to see such an accurate depiction of my complex personality. (Less than one percent of the population has the same personality type as I do.)

Empathy

All too often, we tend to view the world strictly through the rose colored glasses of our own thoughts and experiences and fail to infuse our relational interactions with a modest amount of empathy. We are often incapable of seeing things from another’s point of view.

In order to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, you must 1) get to know that person beyond the veneer of social fronts, 2) understand the motivating forces directing that person’s behavior, and 3) often take into consideration the major life events that helped shape that person’s view of the world.

Empathy is a powerful tool, in both personal and professional relationships. It can help you analyze your own strengths and weaknesses (as well as those of your competition) and strengthen the quality of your relationships. Empathy can help diffuse a confrontational situation, provide a connection to a new acquaintance, and produce insight into the behaviors of those around you. It is a crucial component of healthy relationships.

One tool that can help you increase your level of empathy is personality typing, like the one provided by Jung. You can take your own personality test for free here: Carl Jung and Isabel Myers-Briggs typology.

Understanding your own personality is often the first step in personal growth and professional achievement. It’s one of those little nuggets of truth in life that should be taught universally, at least in my opinion. If you would like to learn more about personality types, a popular view is the Four Temperaments. And for those of you familiar with Jung’s theories, I am not supporting all of his views. As with many of the major personality theorists that shape our modern view of psychology, he produced some insightful elements and some wonky ones. If you would like to read more about Jung’s personality theory relevant to the MBTI scoring, PeopleMaps has a decent post about the subject.

If you are interested, I scored as an INTP. My personality is that of a Rational Architect. If you’d like to comment on your own MBTI results, feel free to drop me an email or start a discussion below. You may be shocked at what your test results reveal.

photo credit: Dr Stephen Dann

Now, I have no desire to acquire hordes of possessions, climb to the top of some corporate ladder, or become a rock star at 35. I think this is more of a spiritual nudging that I’m not living up to my full potential. I am capable of more; I was created for better things. YOU were created for better things, too.

So, where is all this borderline motivational drivel leading to, you ask? In my quest to plan out a course for achieving more, I found a wonderful little nugget of truth and wisdom, tucked away in a far corner of the Internet, and I’d like to share it with you.

You see, I have a small problem; I am not an entrepreneur by nature. Confidence and drive and persuasion do not come naturally to me. But I am an innovative thinker.

I’m looking for a new road map today. I’m planning a route for better personal and professional relationships, a deeper spiritual life, a robust education, and a solid, innovative, fulfilling online business. I’m doing a life make-over, an early mid-life crisis, reinventing the wheel- whatever it takes, and I found an excellent starting line today thanks to Sitepoint.com and WhitneyHess.com.

If you are looking for a starting point for your online business, or even if your focus has gotten a little hazy, this presentation titled Evangelizing Yourself will help set you back on track. Watch it more than once and take notes, because Ms. Whitney is about to provide your road map for success with a side serving of motivation and confidence.

Hidden Office Gems

One tool that can help you work smarter is most likely sitting on your hard drive right now, Microsoft Office. I use Microsoft Word daily, hourly, obsessively. The grammar and spelling checker is one of the best available, and overall, the program is easy to work with. To be honest, I bought Office just to get Word. Excel, Access, Power Point… those were just taking up space on my computer. Sure, I’d poked around a little when I first got them, and I had a vague sense that they could do much more, but was never motivated to take the time to learn what each program was capable of.

I recently finished a college course on advanced Excel and Access functions, and was I surprised at what these programs can do! I canceled my subscription to Freshbooks, gave away my Freelance management program, and streamlined my daily tasks enough to sneak in a nap in the afternoons (or a few minutes of quality time with a good novel). With an investment of a few minutes of my time I set up custom invoices, a database of my regular clients, a streamlined email list, custom reports and graphs, and a financial analysis of my business income- all in less time than I would normally spend managing paperwork with my old system.

Excel Features

Did you know that Excel can:

• Automatically find inconsistencies in your spreadsheets
• Import and export data to and from other Microsoft programs like Outlook, Word, and Power Point
• Sort data without altering the original information
• Perform complex calculations like displaying the names of employees eligible for a 401K program with the requirements of more than one year of employment, less than $200,000 yearly salary, and full time status
• Add long columns of figures without errors
• Record repetitive functions to be performed with a single click
• Calculate loan payments
• Figure the amount of interest and principal paid each month
• Determine the break even point for your business
• Figure the best possible price for a product or service based on your operating costs

Microsoft Office online has pre-made Excel spreadsheets for popular tasks like balancing your checkbook, creating a budget, tracking grades, and planning events. I even created a special Excel workbook for analyzing keyword profitability.

Access Discoveries

Entering customer information into Access was quick and painless with the import feature that took my information straight from my Outlook address book. In a matter of minutes, I was able to create custom invoices and generate reports such as outstanding payments and projects due in the next week. The switch-over was quick and painless and produced professional quality results.

It may seem like a no-brainer, but I was really pleased to find a few hidden gems already in my software library. Microsoft offers online classes for Office products, and your local library carries lengthy manuals covering all the simple and complex functions of each program if you’d like to learn to take advantage of your Office programs.

If you’ve discovered other hidden gems to help you work smarter, please drop me a line in an email or in the comments below. I could really use a few extra minutes to work on my fiction writing. 

photo credit: AlexDixon

This post is a shameless promotion for Ryan D. Scott’s latest foray into the online community, because I think Ryan is awesome and he tapped me on the shoulder for a little link love. MakeComedy is the brainchild of Ryan, formerly known as Oktober5 and sometimes seen hanging out with that bad boy, Matthew Dryden.

Ryan’s new niche site gives readers tips on how to “create better comedy.” Okay, so SEO isn’t very funny, and most of my posts about Christianity and business ethics lean more toward practical. I’m just a practical kinda girl, but I’ll admit, I could use more funny. We could all use more funny, more smiles.

People like to laugh, and no matter what your reasons for hanging out on the Net, a little funny can help. And Ryan knows comedy.

Take for example his description of Matthew for the About Page of TheCompletists:

Matthew is the kind of man that you usually hear referred to as “a quiet guy” by neighbors being interviewed in front of a yellow police tape festooned house, buzzing with police, and several authorities removing numerous large, bulky bags while a backhoe operator jumps from his vehicle yelling, “I think we found even MORE in the back yard!”

Actually, Matthew is an up-and-coming writer and spoken-word poet, who loves to violate the dictionary in many different ways.

Okay, so that one is mostly funny because it is true.

The website is fairly new, but I’ve already bookmarked it so I don’t miss out on any of the great posts that are sure to come in the following weeks. One of my favorite thus far is Ryan’s feature post about comedian Damon Scott. If you only click through on one link today, make it this one. You’ve got to see Damon’s act. (I just LOVE that monkey!) It will make you smile, guaranteed.