I Love This Record Baby But I Can’t See Straight Any More…
How time flies when you’re having fun!
Firstly, it’ll soon be time for the next issue of the Profit Pulling Project newsletter, courtesy of Garry Parkes. If you haven’t signed up for your FREE copy, then you can do so here: Show Me The Newsletter! I learn something new and get inspired with every issue, so it’s a must-have for me.
Secondly, thank you to those of you that have contacted me with regards to my article in the last edition of the PPP newsletter; I am very pleased to have been of use to you. Are there any other topics that you can think of that you would like covered? If so leave a comment here & either I or Garry should be able to provide an article for you. In my case, this can be completely basic; the thing you were afraid to ask because you felt everyone else already knew it. Trust me, I’m learning something new every day in this online adventure!
Those of you that blog-hop regularly have probably already seen my responses to Gary Simpson’s post on Internet Marketing: What Bothers You? There are some very interesting comments over there as well as my rather extensive posts, as the things that annoy us will be issues that also irritate our future customers. Something to bear in mind!
As I type this on Sunday night ready to upload on Monday morning (long story, won’t go into detail!), I’m waiting for my food to cook. This season I am mostly eating pork in cider with apples, onions, & mushrooms, with breadcrumbs & grated cheese to top it all off, served on a bed of rice (ok, so now I’m pimping my food!). But I’m really looking forward to it! By the time you read this I’ll be back at work in the real world and my Sunday evening will be a distant memory. I have of course had to ‘test’ the cider before I could cook with it. I couldn’t tell whether it was acceptable to use for cooking after one glass, so I’m on the second one now while my food prepares itself.
Have you been over to Dean Holland’s blog lately? I think he got inspired by all the activity over at the Gaz-Man’s blog, so has been giving it the pimp treatment as well. Pop over and have a look, see what’s he’s been up to.
I haven’t added a new post for a little longer than usual because I hadn’t decided what to write about. What do you do to overcome writer’s block? How do you get inspiration for what you’re doing? Normally ideas just pop into my head, so what do you do when the ideas don’t come? I think at the moment for me it’s because I have so many conflicting demands on my time, and it’s trying to manage them. The trouble is that I’m generally very relaxed about everything and tend to just chill & cruise my way through life. However, I know that if I continue in that way then I’ll never get anything done. There are moments where I feel (to paraphrase the popular poem) I’m not waving, but drowning. I need to block out some time dedicated to dealing with and managing each of these conflicting areas in my life – but that requires time, which is something I don’t have a lot of at the moment. I know, I know, it’s the oldest excuse in the book. Well, that or ‘the dog ate it’, but I’m not sure that applies here.
Then you see something like this – and suddenly all your issues seem so small by comparison.
It is becoming increasingly evident to me that we have some top-class talent here in the F500, but what has become more evident to me is how reluctant people are to take credit for their talent. However, there are also those that claim to be ‘experts’ in their field who should really know better. What is it about the human psyche that if we’re good, we don’t tell anyone, but if we’re not so good, we pretend we are & make a living from it?! Perhaps I should go into psychology. Hmm, that’s quite a frightening thought for the psychology profession – I think they’ll probably be better off without me! (I’m English, I’m allowed to be self-deprecating!)
We’ve got some really helpful and talented people here, so I thought I’d do a little shout-out to some of the people that have helped me or who I have seen are very talented in a particular area. Apologies in advance if your name isn’t here – leave me a comment and I’ll pop over to check you out! This isn’t a definitive list, it’s just those names that have sprung to mind.
- Paull Hamilton – brilliant videos on how to use video among other things
- Gary Simpson – motivational posts that tend to make one think (and usually provoke essays out of me!), and useful tips & techniques as well – the Temple of Learning has it all
- Tommy McLaughlin – Lots of ‘how to’ videos that cover the basics as well as more advanced techniques. Loves fishnets, kilts and top hats (sorry Tommy, couldn’t resist that!)
- Ian & Becky Carter – also newbies to this, and everything they’ve learned is documented on their blog – a great place to start if you’re stuck with something
- JT Martin – covers the more technical aspects of blogging – again, very helpful
- Dean Holland, for being the original AJ student and newbie – also providing a lot of help to everyone.
- Denis Caron – a brilliantly witty writer, with sarcasm to match mine (although Denis manages his a lot better than I do mine!).
- Harry Harris – for teaching me Italian! Star Wars aficionado, has also been very helpful to me and the rest of the F500, useful posts as well as humouring me!
- Garry Parkes (again!) – for being one of the main hubs for all the F500 to congregate, and for providing fun videos on Alex Jeffreys and informative videos on the intricacies of Twitter.
Which leads me to my next point.
I would also like to thank (hang on, why does this sound like an Oscar-winners’ speech?!) the people that humour me on Twitter. You know who you are – this post is already getting pretty sizeable without me naming and shaming you all! Might save it for my next blog entry. Incidentally, if you aren’t following me on Twitter, why not? You know you want to.
I can smell my food is almost ready, so I’m stopping here before this ends up a book in its own right.
Happy Monday to you all!!
Nikki
Filed under: Online Business
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Twitter: TheGazzMan
says:
Nix – a most excellent post, yet again. My favourite bits were all the bits about… ME! LOL! No, not really, but thanks for the accolades. I do appreciate your sentiments.
I absolutely love your wit. There were so many funny things that you said like:
“…so I’m on the second one now while my food prepares itself.” – laughed at that as I could picture it.
and
“… so has been giving it the pimp treatment as well.”
and
“Perhaps I should go into psychology. Hmm, that’s quite a frightening thought for the psychology profession – I think they’ll probably be better off without me!” – That really got me laughing.
This was a fabulous post – just the sort of stuff I like – ie full of wit and sarcasm, sometimes self-sarcasm which is even funnier coz it sounds like you are wrestling with opposing thoughts in your mind and WE get to see that.
Nix, let me tell you what I did the other day. No, no, no – it’s not horrifying, though it could have been.
Anyway, I was at the hair-dressers and I was doing my usual flirt with all the females and had them making me cups of tea and they were doing the brushy-feely stuff while they washed my hair (jeez, I’m hopeless – never been any different) blah, blah, blah. And there’s this cute little German girl in there called Kristine and she is… well, she’s rather cute and has this wonderful accent and she buggers up all her words and we just laugh and laugh. And all the other people in the salon keep looking over. Probably thinking I am a big sleaze. Oh, I got carried away…
But… while I was waiting I just got my notebook out and in about 10-15 minutes I just wrote out topic after topic that I can write about on my blog. I ended up with 53. That’s enough for several months – and I am still adding to them. I will never run out at this rate coz I am adding to the list faster than I am taking them off.
My latest blog post about the 25 bizarre things about me wasn’t even on that list.
Try that idea.
Regards
Gary
[Reply]
Hi Kate oops sorry Nikki,
There is me again thinking a bout a pair of ‘Golden Globes!!’
Thanks for the mention, I do hope my blog continues to provide good value to people …
I am currently working away behind the scenes on my new project that will I hope further benefit everyone
Anyways, see you on twitter
Cheers
Tommy
[Reply]
Twitter: HilaryDickinson
says:
Hi Nikki
What a great post – you’re right to get this post out first and then you can do the 25 things one.
I’ve just got my daughter to make a start on that list for me!
I agree with you so much about those who have helped – I wouldn’t be half way as far as I’ve got without them. The talent here is amazing as well as the willingness to share.
I said some time ago that I feel on any course I learn as much from other students as I do from the tutor and that is really true here.
By the way I love your sense of wicked humour and I enjoy the banter (and innuendo!) that exists between you and certain other members of this community (name no names) so do keep going with it (I nearly siad something else but that would be to risk further comments!).
We all need humour in our lives and long may it continue.
Hils
[Reply]
Hi Nikki:
Sssshhhhh…I’m over here cause I’m pretending that I’m too busy to write 25 things (oh sorry, Gary, just didn’t happen to see your post yet. How long can I get away with that?)
If you need more song titles you can use a few of mine-
“Meet me by the rock pile baby, ’cause that’s where I’m a little bolder”. Or how about “You’re my cotton candy baby ’cause you made my peanut brittle”. Okay I’ll stop…
Anyway, thanks for the nice shout out-Appreciated and yet, humbling all at the same time. So many of us gravitated to this course and discovered so much more than just about internet marketing, like about ourselves, for instance-oh damn you Gary Simpson (said with love). The question is, “Now what?”
Your posts are great because they’re a window into your personality. The visitor feels that they know you with your writing. I get tired of reading all those other “ezine tutorial” type posts. Linda had spoken of bringing “humanity” into this biz, and you do. There are some very special people here, who also have done just that. I’ve got a post coming up about that very topic (unless now you get to it first. See ideas come from everywhere).
New blog theme/direction coming soon, so back to the grind before that bloodhound Simpson sniffs me out over here…
I did send you that poem days ago…Didn’t read it yet or…
Do you realize that we have not linked up yet? Link me? Well,link you:)
Denis
[Reply]
Hi Nikki,
Everything you do, you do well and this is no exception.
If you can make people laugh (which you obviously can do) when you are getting your message across then all the better. As Hilary says above “we all need humour in our lives” and certainly you are very able at providing that in large doses at times:-) You may even entice me to take up cooking if ones permitted to drink much of the ingredients!!
Thanks very much Nikki for the kind words and sentiments you expressed above for me. It is nice to read stuff like that written about you and it is great that I am included up there with that fantastic list of people you have mentioned. We all bring our own skills into the F500 mix and as a whole we are all better off for it.
Right better get back to a long list of emails I need to reply to.
Catch you on Twitter later no doubt. And talking about Twitter I’ve got the initial F500 Twitter Blogroll up on my site with all the Ids in one place. Click on my Resources tab to see it. Need to get more people to get involved with Twitter though.
Garry
[Reply]
Hi Nikki,
Please don’t limit yourself to writing short posts anymore, you have an excellent eye for what makes us tick, so a lot more of it please. Your comment about self deprecation really made me smile.
I wonder why the English are so in tune with this personality facet ? As you pointed out though it’s not a real asset in the world of marketing, so It’s time to break away from the inbred characteristic that the English use with such sublety, and learn how to play the tuba rather than a tin whistle.
Thanks ever so much for your kind comments about me, very appreciated.
Best wishes,
Paull
Oh and by the way, do you do a takeaway menu ? cider pork on rice, nice !
[Reply]
Twitter: TheGazzMan
says:
Hi Nix,
I wouldn’t mind sharing some pork with you myself… oh dear, what have I said now? You can delete that if you want. LOL!
Um, Mr Caron! The bloodhound in me has indeed sniffed that comment out. Just as well I get so side-tracked here.
Well your Royal Purple Witchliness I must leave now but in the words of my favourite Austrian-Californian actor…
Gazz-Man
PS: I do so love pork. Really. And cider too. Next time ask me how you pickle a pork (if you dare!)
[Reply]
Nikki Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Good afternoon everyone!
I’m writing this response from a snowed-in Bristol at the moment, while fighting with the urge to go out and build a snowman. I even brought a change of clothes to work with me so that I can go and play in the snow and then get back into sensible work-clothing afterwards.
What, I’m 27 and should know better? Tough! It’s snowing, I’m happy, enough said!
Anyway, replies.
1) Gaz-Man – I’m glad you appreciated the humour within my post! I can be extremely sarcastic, I have quite an acerbic wit when given half an opportunity. Or maybe that was just the cider talking. Hmm.
As for your other comment, I’m usually far too busy relaxing and drinking tea when I’m at the hairdressers – it’s my little pampering treat to myself. I do however carry a notepad with me most of the time, so any random thoughts that I feel the need to write down can go straight into there for use at an appropriate moment.
I was going to add a picture of the snow into this comment, but I’m not sure how to go about doing it – so for now you’ll have to be without a wonderful pic from me. Perhaps I’ll add it to my next post.
2) Tommy, as if I would expect any other answer from you! I can quite easily see why you would get distracted by the thought of Golden Globes, although it’s a bit chilly here in the snow at the moment…I’ll leave that thought there I think! Ooh, so what are you working on? Do tell!!
3) Hi Hils, I’m really pleased to hear that you like the humour and banter that goes on – I know sometimes I can take it to the extreme – but then I’m like that, very little middle ground with me! If I can provide a little entertainment for everyone then that’s got to be a good thing in my opinion. I liked your list of 25 things incidentally – I’m saving mine for another couple of days before I unleash them upon the world.
4) Hey Denis, nice to see you over here in the Lair. Thank you for those lyrics that I can use as post titles – will you expect royalties if I do use them?! As for my posts being a window into my personality, what a scary thought! I guess perhaps I’m good at sharing myself (no, Gaz-Man, not like *that*!) and the madness of the World of the Minxy Temptress. I shall pop over to your blog shortly to see what excitement you’ve got going on over there. I have read your poem, sorry that I haven’t responded yet – I downloaded it to my desktop at work, read it, then sadly got distracted by work (fancy having to actually do something at work – I still can’t get my head around that concept!). So I shall make sure I reply to you soon – but I did think it was excellent – you do have a superb way with words.
5) Garry, fancy seeing you here! Come back for another treatment session?
Seriously (for once), thank you for the compliments – it’s things like that that give me validation for doing what I’m doing. So it is very much appreciated. In fact that goes for all of you that have left comments for me – thank you. As for the cooking, I’m always happy to pass on my tips (i.e. always thoroughly test any alcohol that you might choose to use in cooking).
6) Captain Pugwash! Or Dumbledore. Whatever you’d prefer. I hope the Gaz-Man doesn’t read anything into your comments about playing the tuba rather than a tin whistle – I know how his mind works when corrupted by the purple haze of my blog. Or in fact how his mind works when he’s awake. Anyway, I’m glad you also enjoyed the post – perhaps I should write when drinking a little more often! Hmm, perhaps not. I might accidentally reveal a little too much of myself.
As for a takeaway service, I’m not sure the food would travel that well to you! It’d probably be banned from most places for being full of suspicious and forbidden substances. Or maybe that would just be me. Hmm. Food for thought there!
7) Gaz-Man – again? You’re spoiling me! The only comment I can really make is to ask whether Mrs Gaz-Man likes pork in cider?
Oh dear, what a way to end my post!
Naughty Nix (you’ve missed me over the past couple of days, so I need to make up for lost time!)
[Reply]
Twitter: TheGazzMan
says:
Nikki,
Way too much ammunition and unexploded Purple Witch ordnance laying all over the place there in your last reply to everyone. I fear that if I detonate even one of those bombs that it will cause a chain reaction and I’ll just have to set the whole damn lot off – LOL!
And I have to say – you are quick (then again, maybe not – LOL). Mrs GM, er, how can I put this – (probably several ways, actually) – rather fancies that dish. In fact, it is one of her faves and I do try to cook it for her rather often. Even when the oven hasn’t been pre-warmed. Nevertheless, I can usually turn the heat up high enough and fast enough to bake a lovely offering and it is always so scrumptious and filling and so satisfying.
Nix, you were so close, my dear, in your answer to my question at how you pickle a pork. The answer, of course, is that you soak it in cider.
A sixty-seven year old tea lady told me that once about 30 years ago. Her name was Mrs Neumann (pronounced Noy Man) and she was a dear old thing. But, when she whispered it to me, the meat she was referring to wasn’t pork. It did, however, start with a P but it had one extra letter in the word, and the last letter was the one before T.
Jeez we laughed – her at the joke and me at her for having the audacity to tell me. After that I would always request “cider” from her tea trolley and she would always laugh and nobody ever understood why.
Anne, as her name was, suggested one day that I drink tea without sugar. So, I tried it for a week and I have never had sugar in my tea since then. And then she further suggested I not take it with milk and I did that too. And that is why I drink black tea with no sugar and no milk today.
So Nix, now you know how I take it. Let me know how you take it and maybe we can have tea together one day.
Back to Anne – for some semblance of decency – before I sign off and people just shake their head in disbelief at some of the things I say (especially here)…
She must have passed away now but I still remember the fun we had with that silly joke. She was a very nice lady and the best darn tea lady I ever had. God bless her.
Gary
[Reply]
Hi, Nikki,
Thanks for the informative article in the latest Profit Pulling Platform newsletter, 1/21/09.
All the best,
Joan
[Reply]
Hey Nikki !!
How you going sister ??!! I just realised, you were the original sis !!
Thanks for the mention.. Your so kind
So hows the snow now in Bristol ?? Here in Nottingham we are just slopping around in slush right now !!
Wet and miserable … Good job you bring light into our lives huh
Just put up a new post Nikki as you should get the email about my friend
Where I mention I have struggled to keep motivated over January like you, must be the winter blues !!
Keep at it sis, everything you do is Sweeet and we love ya for it !!
Keep in touch
Dean
[Reply]
Hi Nikki,
It’s been awhile since I stopped by but I see things are rocking and rolling over here. I have to say, I don’t think Gazz-Man even has to be awake!
I love to read the banter and double entendre … I’ll leave the pork subject alone to simmer for now. As for the tea, I dare not tell him how I take it lest I expose too much.
I’m off to visit some of the people’s blogs you mentioned above, and to get a bite. Of what I’ll leave to your imagination.
Debbie
[Reply]
Twitter: TheGazzMan
says:
Good on you Debs!
I think Nix and I do a lot of thin ice skating in some of our tete-a-tetes but it is all in fun and it pleases me (and no doubt the purply one too) that it is amusing so many people.
Gary
[Reply]
Hey Nikki,
Long time away from you… First I needed a good laugh. Second, I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed both of your PPP articles.
I actually expected to find your first ebook here. Did I overlook it?
My questions for you are:
I would like to know why my gravatar does not appear in my own blog when I comment back to others. I write from the dashboard, if that makes a difference.
I would also like to know how to do that vertical line thing like Gary does when he repeating something that was already written. I sure hope you know what I’m talking about. I can wait till the next issue of PPP, if you want to use it there.
Thank you purple highness,
Renee
[Reply]
Replies time! It isn’t snowing here any more, so I can stop having the fear of falling over in the snow / ice and making even more of an idiot of myself than usual.
Oh dear, it does seem that I started something with my innuendo-strewn reply above. As it’s one of my many talents, and one of the few I can actually share in public, I think I’ll carry on!
9) Gaz-Man – how do I take it? As often as possible! Anyone that has ever had the pleasure of sharing any time with me in person will be able to tell you that. I have an insatiable appetite that people have often remarked upon.
Oh, and milk please, but no sugar in my tea.
10) Joan, welcome to my blog and thank you for the compliment! I also managed to get a spot in the latest newsletter, have you downloaded your free copy yet? I’m glad that you found it useful.
11) Deano! Long time no see! But then I guess you’ve benn pretty busy over at your blog, there’ve been some HUGE changes over there! The snow in Bristol has practically all gone now, and even the mushy stuff has pretty much left. But where’s the sunshine?! That’s my question!! I shall be over to spread my randomness at your blog pretty soon, have no fear!
12) Debbie welcome back to the Lair of Temptation! I do enjoy witty banter, and I’m glad that everyone seems to be quite accepting of it. It’s great to have someone to reciprocate as well – for once I’m not just talking to myself (although it has been known!).
13) Gaz-Man – again?! You’ll be turning purple in a minute! So I’ll release my grip a little…
14) Renee, how nice to see you over here. Thank you so much for the compliments about my articles – I’m still excited about seeing my name in print! World domination is coming closer…! No, I haven’t written an ebook yet, I did think about doing a ‘this is how I got my blog up & running’ but wasn’t sure whether that would be useful for anyone at this stage. In all fairness, it would be good practice for me to do it, and a good experience, so perhaps I should write it!
Renee! I’ve just read your 25 things post, and the bit at the bottom about the song and the butterfly – I shall make a point of going back to listen to that! I’ve written my 25 things, I just haven’t uploaded it yet as at the time I’d only just uploaded this post. Perhaps I might unleash that one tomorrow. I shall see how I feel.
As for the gravatar thing – it depends on which email address is linked to your blog, and which email address is linked to your gravatar. For example, I have 2 email addresses (well, actually I’ve got a few) – the one I now use on most blogs is the one that has my gravatar account enabled as it wouldn’t do it on my other email for some reason. So it may be that your WP admin email address is different to your gravatar enabled one? (Does that make any sense at all, I realise I may be rambling like a mad woman again!). If you go into your WP admin and then click on Settings at the very bottom on the left hand side, then you should get a page with stuff like your URL and your email address – check the email in here is your gravatar-enabled one.
The other question I believe relates to blockquotes, which don’t show up that well on this blog. If you look (ahem!) at my first article in the PPP, then you’ll see that blockquote was one of the HTML tags that I mentioned there. So if you want to blockquote someone, then you would write (without spaces although I have to do it or the computer won’t show it as text):
< blockquote>“(then copy & paste the text you want to quote in here without these brackets)”
Practice on your blog as then you can delete it easily afterwards.
I hope that this makes sense & answers your questions!
…………………………….
Thanks to you all for your comments…I hope you enjoy the replies!
The Purple Minxy Witch
[Reply]
Twitter: TheGazzMan
says:
Oh dear…
Only do that darls when the Gazz-Man asks you to. Now, can you go back to where you were? I wasn’t quite ready.
[Reply]
Hello Butterfly Nikki ,
Thanks for the info. Now I remember, you did write about the block quote. Duh on me. I will tinker with it because it looks cool on screen.
My gravitar is set to all of my email addresses. I wonder if I can trick wordpress by making a change and then changing it back again.
I love reading your stuff. Just the right amount of humor with brains. Your first “whatever” will be outstanding. Have you decided on your what direction your going to take?
Renee
[Reply]
Hi Nikki
Great post once again. Thanks for the mention, it really means a lot. I know I may not be around quite so much but its nice to know we are not forgotten! I have also just completed my facts about myself but I only managed to get to 15!! I’m not really that interesting obviously-lol.
I have just spilled my heart over at Deans blog, what is it about that man that gets me motivated?? He really is a star.
Well its great to see you doing good things here still, I know you have time constraints aswell, but we get there don’t we.
Take care,
Becky
[Reply]