Editor's Note: This post was originally published on the Bayer Center blog in May 2009 and has been updated for relevancy, etc. Sometimes I stay up later than I should at night, Googling issues of concern to me and thinking about the various wrongs in the world. I have been an activist in various capacities since my high school days, but as I age I find myself becoming more acutely aware of issues, concerns, and problems plaguing our planet, its people and animals. At times, I feel … [Read more...] about Be the Pebble in the Pond: Take Small Personal Actions to Make the World a Better Place
Insights
Struggling to Learn New Technology? Adopt a Growth Mindset.
I've been doing a lot of training lately, most recently a class at the Bayer Center last week called DIY Websites with WordPress. Upon reflection, I realize that I'm hearing a good deal of self-criticism, particularly in hands-on technology trainings. For example: "I have a stupid question." "I'll never remember how to do this." "I'm so dumb when it comes to technology." "I totally screwed this up." This makes me very sad. The people who come to my workshops are highly intelligent … [Read more...] about Struggling to Learn New Technology? Adopt a Growth Mindset.
Writing and Drawing by Hand vs. Typing on a Keyboard
As I sought inspiration for this week's post, my eye went to the stuff on my desk at home. Besides my electronic stuff (PC, iPhone, iPad), I realized I have a remarkable number of items that are non-digital: journal, drawing journal, sketchpad, adult coloring books and regular notebooks. I also thought back to a phone call I had earlier this week with our Salesforce implementer during which I semi-apologized that I'm drawing screenshots for him by hand. (Additionally, I still wireframe my … [Read more...] about Writing and Drawing by Hand vs. Typing on a Keyboard
An introvert’s advice on overcoming your fear of public speaking
Our Number One Fear Public speaking is, according to West Coast Toastmasters, the number one fear Americans have. Our fear of public speaking is apparently even greater than our fear of death! I do a lot of public speaking as part of my job. I teach maybe a dozen non-credit workshops at the Bayer Center each year, give breakout sessions at conferences, participate in panel discussions and facilitate meetings regularly. You probably think I'm some kind of extrovert that enjoys being in the … [Read more...] about An introvert’s advice on overcoming your fear of public speaking
Evaluating WordPress Plugins
Someone recently asked me this question during a WordPress clinic: "How do I know if a WordPress plugin is a good one to use?" An excellent question, though the answer is a little less straightforward than I'd prefer. WordPress is an open source community and as such, anyone who wants to create a plugin can do so. WordPress.org maintains a plugin directory but the guidelines for submission are primarily centered on licensing and keeping people from doing illegal things via plugins. One would … [Read more...] about Evaluating WordPress Plugins
The Importance of (and Resources for) Technology Planning at Nonprofit Organizations
I've been thinking about nonprofits and the importance of technology planning a lot lately. I strongly believe that every nonprofit organization, regardless of size or budget, should have some semblance of a technology plan. As part of my work, I've helped many nonprofits assess their technology usage and become better at planning for tech. I thought it could be useful to share info on this topic, so I went digging through some materials I have handy. One of the first things I found is a … [Read more...] about The Importance of (and Resources for) Technology Planning at Nonprofit Organizations
