Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Firewalker

Cheri, you are absolutely right. Of course one ought to have done the work; but one thing that stayed with me when I read Rich Dad Poor Dad was that the author(s) mentioned that they did not set out to write 'best read' book but a 'best selling' book. The difference is important and not as crude as it may seem at first - most of it is about the things you mention. It is about the way we call things (books included), the way in which we promote them and the netwroking with the ones who have already 'got there'.

Knowing myself (well, roughly) I suspect that I can do the 'best reading' bit but will have to work really hard on the 'best selling' part.

Firewalker

Firewalker

As a follow on from the previous post, I have been working really hard on writing post for the blog. However, my lines are going in the wrong direction which is telling me that a) my content is all wrong or b) that it is finally time to start promoting it a bit more. Spent the morning researching and writing posts; and learning about ways to promote blogs.

Now will do a bit of other stuff but seem to be getting headache.

FW

MrsMoo2U

FW, try this http://www.nikkipilkington.com/the-30-day-facebook-challenge/ for some research re promoting blogs and getting more readers etc. Not sure if it still works but is a good thing to be part of. He also has an ebook I think about 30 day blogging.

Lara44

Firewalker wrote: »

Lara, when is the wedding?

FW

It's 6th August - :eek: Less than 3 weeks. We have got most big things in place, but still quite a lot of little 'bits' to sort. But I am taking some time off studies and we are sorting it out gradually.

gilligansyle

FW - I was reading your blog yesterday, and although some of it makes my head hurt, I read back over other stuff and you have inspired me to sort my cupboards out. In doing so I found things I'd bought from Approved Foods ages ago, and had got hidden at the back of cupboards. So yesterday made bread with a mix that was absolutely brilliant, and today am having some couscous that I found too. Order to AF on its way!

Triciaxx

Fortunately, I'd typed this in word as my internet connection went AWOL last night:( I'm told it is a matter of bandwidth and, as it is a dongle connection, is not exactly fast anyway. Norfolk weather is glorious and we saw 2 Marsh Harriers today while on the Broads. :j:j:j


Phew! That took some catching up. I'm not even going to go back very far in my comments but will pick up at the start of the 'intellectual hegemony' discussion.

I don't think it sounds big headed to aspire to this. Would it be worth looking at biographies of people like Chomski (who is one of my heroes as he spans several fields of study and I like that)? You could see what route they took from where they were to where they are now.

As far as the blog is concerned, you have had an initial 'peak' engendered by friends - both RL and virtual. Not everyone will stay with you - I have difficulties keeping up with all the blogs I would like to read and do a periodic purge of my 'blogs bookmarks' folder. If I didn't, I would never do anything but read blogs!

This dip should disappear as new people find you who are really interested in what you say. I don't think many blogs do well unless they are promoted in some way so you probably have to schedule in some work on that.

I agree with Cheri that you are on the right track. :T:T

Firewalker

Lara, I am sure that you will have a wonderful day; the secret is not to overdo the arrangements and preparation so that you have fun as well. This is what we did a long time ago anyway.

Gilli, glad my blog inspired you. And I am sorry about the bit that give you headache - one of the things I really want to achieve with it is to make it enjoyable and straight forward enough so people don't get headache. Will get there - but finding it hard; material is to blame no doubt.

Tricia, glad you are having good time and thanks for your words. Will check out some biographies for ideas and inspiration. As to the blog, you are right and the lines change daily. Have been reading on how to promote it - you see I never thought I'll be a blogger one day. But then I never thought I'll be a long distance runner, a mummy etc. Who knows baggy jeans and body piercing may be next (not, probably).

Today has been interesting. Most of the day I worked with a German colleague on a large research project I need to put to bed before end of September. All good fun. Intestinally, I am feeling how the tension is draining out of me all the time; although I don't think that I am doing less than before the sabbatical I feel relaxed. OH is also going around the house whistling all the time - he had to start doing it again for me to notice that he has not whistled for close to three years. When he whistles he is happy...which is good except I ought to have noticed how unhappy he was before. He says that he is happy because he can see that we are getting somewhere...

So I look around and I am thinking 'yeah, we have reduced the negative wealth, we are very much together without blame, without accusing eyes and ugly scenes but apart from that what has changed?'. Then I remembered that one of the laws of the Universe is that it is mentality. If OH feels we are moving forward then we are; or very soon will be - with large confident steps.

LB is finishing school this Friday and I did tell him that for a week he will have to 'swing by himself'. He didn't understand what I mean - but when I explained he was happy with it. After all he has just started going to the nearby Aldi shopping on his own. He may not like tomatoes but he is still my son - when I was his age I already knew that I am going to look after my family and was doing all shopping for food.

Feeling a bit off so am going to bed early. Good night a sleep well.

Firewalker

Triciaxx

Firewalker wrote: »

Who knows baggy jeans and body piercing may be next (not, probably).

Please! not baggy jeans. :eek: Piercings, I an live with - even if I only have conservative ear-rings.

OH is also going around the house whistling all the time - he had to start doing it again for me to notice that he has not whistled for close to three years. When he whistles he is happy...which is good except I ought to have noticed how unhappy he was before. He says that he is happy because he can see that we are getting somewhere...Don't beat yourself up about it. You are taking all the responsibility for the situation, but it is shared - or should be if you have a real partnership.


LB is finishing school this Friday and I did tell him that for a week he will have to 'swing by himself'. He didn't understand what I mean - but when I explained he was happy with it. After all he has just started going to the nearby Aldi shopping on his own. He may not like tomatoes but he is still my son - when I was his age I already knew that I am going to look after my family and was doing all shopping for food. Ditto, me. We always want a step 'better' than we had but I wonder if we are right. Perhaps learning the hard lessons of life early is a good thing?

And now I'm back to printers latin :eek: or maybe :


Quadratic equations can cause brain abrasions
On birthdays, Christmas and special occasions
Make sure they add up and confirm each figure
To ensure your answer isn’t smaller or bigger.

Grrr! to MSE which keeps telling me I'm not saying enough. :rotfl::rotfl:

gilligansyle

FW - I like the fact that what you write stretches me; and the fact that you are so disciplined and write on a regular basis. I am lucky if I remember to update my blog once a month, let alone a few times a week!

Firewalker

I had a very big, bad go at DS1 again today. Probably partly because I have been feeling slightly off colour but at the same time I cannot believe that we raised someone so lacking in initiative! To make matters worse he has absolutely no idea how to do things and how to get what he wants (not that he has any idea of what he wants, anyway) but is too stubborn to listen and act when we tell him. An example? Well, a week ago an agency placing TAs phoned him and today I asked whether he has been in touch with them to check what is going on. ‘No...I have their number somewhere...’ – he said.

Have their number? He should have used it by now! Then again to have done this he ought to understand two things: a) that today most people are looking for work not jobs; and b) that what the outcome of an action is often the signal you send not whether you get what you ask for – this may take longer. In other words, people phone not because they will get a job immediately but because they signal that they are very interested and have been doing some planning.

Probably the problem is that DS1 does not think ‘hell, yeah!’ about anything – except playing the guitar with his friend. This is very good as recreation but doesn’t count as a full time occupation, really.

I probably need to spend my sabbatical making OH’s business work and getting work/jobs for grown up sons. Alternatively, I could do what I want and go to a retreat for three months (somewhere in Asia; Eastern mysticism has always made me curious).

Dear Universe, let tomorrow be a better day!

Finally, I thought that some of you may like this:

Watch you thoughts for they become words; watch you words for they become actions; watch your actions for they become your character; watch your character for it becomes your destiny!

Firewalker