Choosing The Right Words For A Blog

Ideas will come into my mind and they don't go away until I write them down.  Other times I write a phrase or word trying to convey the epiphany I had, only to read it later and say -- what the hell was I thinking?  What frame of mind was I in?  A few times I'll try to remember the thought I had acting like a "would-be" writer.  

I read somewhere "would-be" writers seem to think collecting material for writing isn't necessary because they'll remember it.  Maybe I will but many times--no.  That's a would-be writer -- "I'll remember that..."

 

Sometimes I'll be reading and I'll remember what my creative writing teacher said in 6th grade.  She said, read the paragraph and think about what the author attempted to disclose.  Read, stop, and think.  She was the best!  Many times a sentence will grab me and I'll think about it.  It will soak-in like a sponge; linseed oil to wood. 

 

Choosing the right words for anything will take at the minimum, one draft, one edit and one pass-over.  Also, the secret to choosing the right words are...

KEEPING NOTES

and don't forget it!   

Marketing Social Experiments

Can you see the subliminal message?

I like marketing because it's a social experiment on what people like, how they react to certain key words or phrases and how you can influence the masses.  It really is a continual social experiment.

To learn marketing is to learn social behaviors.  Marketing is the ultimate form of social experimentation.  If you want to learn how people think, how to persuade, how to change a person's thought process, learn marketing.  

There is that evil side of marketing called sub-conscious imprinting that can get you to buy something and you don't know why.  It's the premise of where a glass of coke looks appealing because the ice cubes faintly spell out "sex" in a vertical line on the billboard.  It's the picture that spreads sub-conscious messages of -- "you will look as good as this model if you take our supplement".  It's what a mind fills in with enough of a picture but not enough detail provided. 

You'd be surprised about how much psychology successful marketing requires.  Facebook was a social experiment and it's marketing was by word of mouth.  That's easy marketing.  Now think about what you want to sell.  It could be a book, a service or yourself every time you go into an interview.  Think of the marketing aspect of what goes into "selling" no matter what that product is.  Knowing that marketing and psychology play a part of each other can help you understand how to seal the deal.  

There is a different vibe between pushing a sale and helping a customer.  Marketing is the sales pitch not the sale.  Marketing a brand, such as Sears will give the client a familiarity that sticks to their brain.  Sears will stand by their products and that is a psychological impression made by branding--which is marketing.  It does need to be followed through by standing behind your products to concrete that clients belief but marketing puts it there in the first place.  

So when you market, no matter what it is, be wise to the inside of a person's mind.  One of the best marketing "ploys" is "how can I help you?" It's a pressure-free way to be friendly and divert the fact that you're there to sell.  And maybe you'll find that helping people get what they want makes you feel good too. 

2 Very Important Things I've Learned From My GSD

1. When it's yours, fight to the death.

Grim, I know but hear me out.  Emma recently was in a dog fight.  She has taught me that she would fight to the death for something she feels is hers (like her "couch space" next to me). Put your eggs in one basket and guard it like hell.  There's nothing like pressure to make you succeed. 

 

2. Patience and persistence together gets you what you desire.

They say patience is a virtue.  Persistance is too.  Both together creates success!  If you only have one then the road will be rough.  Emma will sit at the table and wait for scraps.  She will never take her eyes off the "bone".  Emma is patient because she waits for us to be done with dinner but she's also persistant because she doesn't let us forget that she's waiting.  Same thing when a ball goes over a hillside.  The bank is steep but she knows that ball will park itself somewhere and while she will go barreling down hills to catch it she also uses patience and persistance to bring that ball out of the bushes.

All this together says I will not just write novels, I will put them out there to be read.  I will not stop I will not go away.  

What does it tell you?

The Secret To A Girls Happiness

To be fair--I had to (vulgar language warning)

Sometimes I rant.  This would be one of those times.  You've been forewarned.

Yeah, I’m calling BS!  When I was full time training I was 5’8” 135 lbs. 18% body fat and a size 5.  I had a wonderful 8 pack (as in abs of steel so massive 6 wasn't enough) and almost-A bust and my inner thighs couldn’t touch even if I squeezed them together really hard.  My confidence was awesome.  I smiled and said hello to everyone.  I also looked like a half-starved zombie.  Everything a guy wants in a girl right?   

Then why wasn’t I getting the attention I get now? 

I’ve found the answer.

BOOBS.

Yes, boobs, breasts, ta-ta’s, Fun bags, cans, racks, puppies, jimmies, shelves, and my personal favorite “the twins”.  I believe there are more (262 to be exact). 

Why have I come to this conclusion?  

Because I’ve shown guys a picture of my body (blocking my head) when I was a size 5 and asked is this “doable” for you?  

I get the nonchalant “sure” as in why not I’m a guy.  I also got the “she needs a little more meat on her bones.”  You know where they want that “meat on her bones?”  Yeah, on the shelf.  I have the same confidence I’ve always had, I smile the same, I say hello the same way but the difference is my shape.  I’m not twiggy anymore, I'm cushy.  Now men see my curvy shape and drown in their own drool.

First you tell me to lose weight and I do.  Then you tell me put some weight on. I call BS!

Moral of this story.  The man who says you’re too thin or too fat doesn’t know what he wants.  He hasn’t a clue as to what he’s looking for and will try to superimpose a fantasy girl over you.  That’s the guy to avoid.  The man who looks at you, the whole of you, and is caught speechless is the one that knows what he wants—it’s you.  Go with that one.   

~ dedicated to the man who can't rip his eyes off me when I walk across the room.

Ready For No Stirrups March!

March is No stirrups month!  That's right riders!  Time to get on your horses and drop those irons.  In the past I've blogged about no stirrup month and am proud to say that we haven't yet had a fall because we weren't riding without our "training wheels", as some call them.  

I believed that stirrups are a comfort and safety device that allows you to stay in the saddle for long periods of time while giving you support during "rough" rides.  I owe those dangly foot holds for giving me stability during training sessions with new babies just starting out and dealing with a rider on their back.  My stirrups have thankfully released me when I've taken falls.  

I'd never want to banish stirrups forever, but for one month every year we cross them in front of the pommel out of the way or remove them altogether.  

To participate doesn't mean you have to do the same though!  During your warm-ups drop your stirrups until your ready to work.  Start off slow.  You'll find your stamina will grow.  The benefits of this exercise will increase your balance, strength and respect for the ones that do ride without their iron aides for an entire ride.  After a month you'll find half-passes not so strenuous, pushing your leg back for the changes easier, and lifting underside for collection a little less painful.  

Of course if you deem it unsafe because your on a bucking bronco and you just can't drop your stirrups, then don't.  If it's fear based try a yoga mantra that has helped me relax a muscle that's too stiff.

I am vulnerable.  I am strong.  I am strong because I am vulnerable.  

It might not make sense to you now but if you repeat the mantra the meaning will become very clear.  Ride safe and at the beginning of April you'll be saying--Thank you strange oddly shaped dangly things, you keep me in the saddle!