Some subtle changes have been afoot (or not so subtle). With those changes, an entire exchange of adjustments are required in all the many applications and associated social network profiles attached to the website, as well additions and/or corrections. Some of the changes you will find:
Welcome Monique
- Please welcome new author, writer, collaborator, and my daughter, Monique Tinsley, to Administrative Sparkle. She will be bringing a fresh perspective to our young professionals who are starting their careers and/or going to college and finding themselves working in administrative fields while they kick-start their careers.
- She has been included in the Contact tab and she is at work creating her About Monique page so you can know all about her background and experience. In general, you are invited to get to know who she is, what she’s about, and what she hopes to contribute in her writing and articles.
- I hope you will find her to be as fabulous a writer as I do. She has the gift for the “joy of writing” and now she can channel it into entertaining pieces for you.
Continue reading »
This has been a busy week with “Administrative Sparkle,” the job (work’n for da man!), and my general personal developments.
OMG, Thank You!
It has definitely been an interesting week in that I have come across some fantastic websites just from people like you who leave comments. I have so much appreciation for those who give me feedback and ideas. Just by leaving me a comment, I’m able to go to your website (if you have the URL attached to your comment) and have had the opportunity to check it out. I will always make the effort to leave you a comment on one of your articles that make me think and I believe I can add to the value, participation, and commentary. So please feel encouraged to leave a comment, not only for me, but for others who come by to check out the latest information.
Polls & Surveys
With that said, I have included a couple of features to the website that prompts you to tell me what you think of the articles and the website in general. You will now see a “Thumbs Up” and a “Thumbs Down” for each of the articles. I have also included a poll on the right-hand sidebar for you to give me your input on the website overall. It includes your opinion on the general layout, ease and use of navigation and finding relevant information, and other stuff. You can even input your suggestion right there in a box provided “Other.” Your input provides me direction of what I can do to make this website one of your favorite places to come to check out. Don’t you wish more services and businesses did that? Give you an easy way to let you express what you think about them?
Also, with the “Thumbs Up – Thumbs Down” and poll features, you do not have to enter your information to participate. You do, however, have to input specific information to leave a comment. That’s the difference. Just a heads-up that I may change the poll to a survey. Not sure, but I’ll get it figured out.
Blogging Code of Conduct
I loved this idea so much that I decided to include it on my website. Please read the Sparkle Code of Conduct as these will clarify the expectation of conduct and behavior that is permitted and not permitted at Administrative Sparkle. I have created its own tab in the navigation bar to access at any time. I will also put the badge (you have to go see the Code to see the badge I’m talking about) on the general template of the website so it is a noticeable marker that Administrative Sparkle participates in the Code. You should see this in the near future.
Media Issues
I also discovered over the week that the media I thought was uploading for you to use on the “How To’s” were not executing. Keep me in the loop with this stuff. Programs have their gliches and I will try to resolve the issue and find a way to get that information to you. In this past week’s case, I loaded the media in Google Docs for access.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
January, New Year’s & Goals
It’s the beginning of a new year and the end of our first month. If you know anything about me, you will know that I have specific goals or projects that I want to accomplish for that year. Some things I do what I need to do, jump through the hoops, figure it out, and… GET IT DONE! It’s the other stuff that I’ve just been “coasting” on. Not gaining weight, but not losing either. Going through my stuff, but not really getting the house completely clean and organized (get rid of crap that no longer serves me). Wanting to write, but not creating and enforcing a schedule (I’ve made great forward strides in that area this month!).
February, It’s My Birthday!
So I dig the whole January, New Year’s idea. But I just haven’t been rock solid in taking the time to map a complete and detailed plan. So that brings me to my next point.
Yes, birthdays are birthdays. Generally it’s not really that big of a deal for me. Even the “BIG 0” ones (I know that just comes out wrong, but you know what I meant… 20s, 30s, 40s). This one is just getting to me for some reason. If I’ve been in the administrative field for over 15-20 years, you must know I would be somewhere near 40s. So there you have it! Yes, I’ve already surpassed the 40 mark, without much fanfare, and really not sweating it too much. This year I will no longer be early 40s. I have now reached the marker of late 40s. I know… SO WHAT!
Anyway, I have been busy all week putting together a PLAN. Seriously, the whole nine yards. Very detailed, specific, calendar dates, deadlines. I’ve got the Excel spreadsheet that is essentially my note taking at this point and will convert the information to MindJet (remember the MindMap software I rave about?) so all the information will be linked up in the various programs.
I haven’t yet decided if I will share the plan (MindJet MindMap) with you (that’s a whole accountability thing, right?!). However, I may share it with you as I progress.
So along with a busy week at work (more so than usual) and my fixation on getting it together, buckling down, and rocking my lifestyle goals, I do want to apologize for not having your Office Chic and Excel this week. I have the consistency with my articles to you as part of the plan!
Also, I had to come up with some really super fantastic words to push my motivation. President’s use inspirational speeches with them, tyrants use propaganda to disguise lies with them, and businesses make billions using words. How powerful is THAT?! Super powerful. So I am leaving you with this on this Wrap-up Friday. I have selected my two inspiration words for this year (or, rather, my birthday year). Discipline and Excellence! I had to define Excellent in order to further define Excellence. Here they are:
Discipline
Definition:
“a : control gained by enforcing obedience or order b : orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior c : SELF-CONTROLExamples:
The troops were praised for their dedication and discipline.
Keeping a journal is a good discipline for a writer.”
Excellence
Definition:
the QUALITY of being excellent
an excellent or valuable quality : VIRTUE
EXCELLENCYExamples:
The SCHOOL is known for the excellence of its TEACHERS.
an award for academic excellence
setting a high standard of excellence
Excellent
Definition:
archaic : SUPERIOR
very good of its kind : eminently good : FIRST-CLASSExamples:
Her new movie has received excellent reviews.
He is an excellent role model for young men everywhere.
The CAR is in excellent condition.
If you are new to here, “Thank you for joining in! Glad to have you with us!”
Yay! Whether you love your job or you hate it, we appreciate surviving and making it to a well-deserved weekend!
Getting Organized
It’s been a good week. Getting more organized with the logs. I love that I have a place to write down my ideas and inspirations and can go back to later. My ideas aren’t lost anymore. My logs consist of simple composition books. You know the ones, we used them in high school for essays. They’re easy, cheap, manageable, and, quite frankly, perfect.
I am a big fan of reading a lot of other blogs out there and my RSS Feeder is definitely full, which makes it impossible to keep up with on a day-to-day basis. Still, there is so much really great stuff out there.
I decided to cancel my digital cable for tv. It took some getting used to, but I find myself getting in a lot more reading and less distraction for writing. TV has a way of getting away from me. Even if it is background noise, it is distraction nonetheless. Would love to hear back from you if you have decided to limit tv. I will admit to watching a movie here and there.
I’ve done some work on the look and feel of the website, attempting to correct some things I think are issues, but may not be. I have focused on different things that I hope make this website easy to navigate, find information, and user friendly overall. Please share your thoughts on what you love and hate about getting around Administrative Sparkle. I still remain true to keeping Administrative Sparkle clean and, therefore, will not have “random” ads taking up space. However, I would like to incorporate products and services that I believe in and would recommend to the administrative professional.
Vegas!
I will be going to Vegas! on December 14 through December 18. Taking vacation time from the “bread and butter” job. Please let me know if you are or will be in Vegas! during that time so we can get together for coffee.
Suggested Reading
Creating Your Own Blog, by Tris Hussey
Layne’s Review: This is a fantastic book for those who are just starting to design and configure their blog and for those who have had a blog for a little while and would still like ideas for what the can do with it. It is packed with a lot of information. However, the information is organized and written so well, a second grader could pick this book up and design a FLAT-OUT AWESOME blog. It covers how to setting up, design, video, audio, photography, etc. and suggested tools, tips, and suggestions.
Posts I Enjoyed This Week
Effective Email Communication, by WorkAwesome
Motivational Tip of the Day, by Lark Miller
Bill Clinton Reality Distortion Field, by Michael Ellsberg and the author of The Power of Eye Contact.
Today I want to offer my suggestion to a great website for administrative professionals. Deskdemon offers a variety of information. Actually it covers quite a lot, including a place to network with other administrative professionals.
When I first started seeking out some good resources relating to my job in the administrative field, I have to admit that initially I didn’t see anything that really grabbed my attention. Deskdemon was one of the first that I came across that provided information geared toward working in, managing, and expanding knowledge and skills in the office administrative career field.
This really is a network and community specifically for the admin.
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Feel free to leave your own suggestion for a website that helps and inspires you to be great in your field. I plan to share more of the resources that I enjoy and would love to be referred to the great ones that you like.
Smiles,
Introduction
I thought I would take a moment to tell you a little about me and what I’m doing here, or attempting to do. If you haven’t had a chance to take a look at my About page, it talks mostly about what I have done in the administrative field over the past 20 years.
Blogs
I keep a somewhat extensive list of blogs of my own that I like to keep up with in my feedreader and find myself needing to weed through them. I like to participate when I find interesting information and topics in a range of interests, but managing more than I can possibly get through in any given day can be impossible.
About
I love reading through the About pages because it gives me a better idea of the person who writes the interesting articles I am drawn to. I also like it when they have a picture. The internet can have a way of disconnecting the person behind the writing to being strictly informative or entertaining. It’s about bringing the entire personality off the page for me. Then I feel like I am interacting with a friend.
My Writing Style
That is how I try to write. I try to write in a way that presents my personality and talking to a friend. Sometimes I write about things that are really pretty basic, but I am reminded at work that the things I consider basic is something new for someone else. That is also the reason why I started writing my very own blog. To offer as a resource for other people who do administrative tasks a place where they can get ideas, be reminded of a tool long forgotten that would come in handy again, or find inspiration to take their job to a higher level that makes it challenging and exciting again (or for the first time).
The Job & The Hobby
I don’t make an income from my blog and work a full-time job for the State of California for what I call my “bread and butter” money. What I love to do is write, share what I know, and offer suggestions and resources when they come my way. I enjoy watching my readership grow, and it has been a gradual process. This past month I actually achieved a little milestone of over 100 subscribers. I know, not much, but it is a thrill to have other professionals who look forward to seeing the different ideas and challenges I am presented with come next.
What I feel like is missing, just a little, is a bit of the interaction. When a reader unsubscribes, I must admit, I feel a little crushed. I placed a Contact link on the sidebar so if you want to write to me personally, there is an easy form for you to send me a message directly. If you feel the urge to unsubscribe, maybe take a moment to tell me what information you would like to get from reading here, challenges you are facing that you would like to see covered, or that you find me rather boring – that’s okay too.
Guest Blogging
Currently, I am the only one who writes here. I’ve thought about offering guest blogging opportunities to those who are interested to contribute another perspective on the field. I have also been presented with opportunities to guest blog for other websites. As this is something I have never done, and sometimes I think it is enough to manage coming up with what I hope is interesting information to share with you on my own blog, it is a little intimidating for me. I have been asked by some really great blogs, I have been fortunate to come across and they provide exceptional information for the administrative professional, and wonder if I can do it. After all, when I decide to do something, I want it to be really good work.
Website Design & WordPress
I personally designed my website using WordPress, so if you are interested in knowing what I have done or the plugins I use, feel free to shoot me a personal email asking what works for me. My website and WordPress is continually evolving, so some things I use on the website may change over time. I try to keep the reader in mind and what makes it interesting and easy for you to navigate it a priority. So if you find a feature that seems more difficult than it should be, let me know that too.
Interaction & Participation
I am also making more effort to interact on other blogs that I like. It’s not that I am antisocial, it just takes a lot of effort for me to get myself out there. That includes participating in internet social websites and outside social events. So if you live in the Sacramento, California area, bug me to come out and play if you have something going on.
You would think my calendar would be full of activities as I live right in the heart of downtown Sacramento in the historic district. On a side note, I awoke suddenly this morning at 6:00 am to a band playing for the Shamrock Marathon runners. The route includes Old Sacramento right underneath my window and, at times, it sounded like “running with the bulls” when a large stream of runners came through (it’s St. Patrick’s weekend here and the parade was yesterday, where I get an overlooking front row balcony view).
With the weather warming up, it is almost Spring, there are so many events and activities going on, I have to force myself to get out. I enjoy my downtime when I’m not working, it gives me a chance to get my personal life organized, write on my blog, interact a little with the locals right outside my front door, and even take my little yellow “bumble bee” motorcycle out for a ride. Oh yeah, and go to the gym. Now that I am more settled in, I would like to get out more and cultivate authentic relationships that are outside of my job. Interacting with people who inspire me and I – them, participating with like-minded individuals or are continually growing, being surrounded by an energy that is uplifting and encouraging, and discovering myself in the process.
In Conclusion
What I am saying is, I’m a pretty private person and putting down my barrier a little here. I am more interested in the person and relationships that come from writing a blog. I would love the opportunity to be able to say, “If you are ever in Sacramento or Northern California, hit me up so I can tell you, or maybe even show you, some of my favorite places.” I grew up in the East Bay, so I can even give some suggestions for San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, and Tahoe (I’m not a big fan of Reno).
If you are new to here, Welcome! and I hope you will come back or include me in your feedreader. If you have been following me, Thank You! I really try to provide some insightful information, interject my personality so it feels like you are talking to a friend, and I hope one day that we may cross paths. You inspire me to annoy my colleagues at work to provide me with challenges to share with you.
With great love and appreciation,
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I just finished reading an article about whether or not blog comments are essential to a site, such as this, or not. The biggest issue that comes up from having a comment section on a site has to do with controlling spam, self-advertising, and just random crap. I take a couple of precautions for this. One is that I moderate comments seeing that it reflects what is written, as well as information that contributes to others using a plugin called Diques Comment System. I also use the WP-SpamFree plugin. I have found these two tools to be very helpful in managing the degree of random comments and allows me to focus on the quality comments. It is an extra step, but it also allows me to stay on track and respond in a timely manner.
I don’t plan to discontinue them at this time because I believe there is more than one point of view. This allows others with similar experience in what I write about to contribute or an alternative way of doing the same task. It also allows a person to disagree and detail why, an alternative point of view. I use Feed Reader to manage quite a few blogs that I like to keep up with that provides me lots of ideas and suggestions, and some purely for entertainment. Personally, I find the comments entertaining and informative.
It could be viewed as self-aggrandizing that is if you are merely looking for a “pat on the back.” I appreciate the comments for two reasons, the opportunity for someone to give their feedback and the opportunity for others to provide their experience and suggestions. Personally, I comment on someone’s blog when I feel I have something of value to contribute. Many times, as I generally read through my Feed Reader, I don’t get to view the comments, but can quickly read through the articles. I will click on the article link if I am interested in what comments others have made or would like to contribute a comment myself.
At this point, I don’t believe that a comment section is a “make or break” option for a website. However, I believe it is the quality of the content that dictates a websites traffic. If you provide quality content that is written well, your followers will come. I must admit that I don’t believe I get that much commenting. I don’t know if that is good or bad, but do find my website traffic increasing over time. This I track with both a Google Analytics plugin and FeedBurner. If people find your information interesting, they will keep coming back and will refer others who may enjoy it as well. As you will see on my sidebar, I share many of my favorites to you as I love sharing really great things, opportunities, and ideas. As if you couldn’t tell by the information that I write on here to share.
I would love to know your view on comments, whether you use them or not, and your personal experience with them. So feel free to share your experience on both the commenting and the moderating sides of commenting.
Every once in a while I like to change things up. So you will see a new look to the website. Sometimes new things work, sometimes they don’t. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained. So I’ve put in a new look to the website. I hope that cup of coffee perks you up as much as it does me.
Also, I updated my comment manager and have not been able to figure out how to transfer all the fabulous comments that were received on the prior posts. I hope to figure out how to get them transferred, but the priority was to get better control over garbage and spam comments. I hope this helps.
Let me know if you have any suggestions, if you find the layout to be less user friendly or any other bothersome quirks it may give you. Only your suggestions will help me to improve the look, feel, and layout so you can enjoy your time here with me.
I appreciate you coming by, don’t forget to say “Hi,” and I look forward to our future conversations here.
