Networking Forum

I have a live journal blog but only a few friends to post with; I still have not taken to posting publicly because I did post a few poems and didn't want them pirated. But now, after reading this email, I'm thinking of sending my blog out publicly, especially now that I'm looking for work.

Hi Alicia. Excellent presentation and question. Thank you so much for including me as an example for your discussion topic. At this point, I do not have one specific idea for the actual content of my personal blog, but using the outline for my ePortfolio as a guide will probably be a nice starting point. Since my ePortfolio is still in the beginning stages, I’ve been keeping it loose for the time being, trying to decide how I want to introduce myself - hoping to capture the attention of the reader. Perhaps, I’ll complete the ePortfolio before I initiate a personal blog. I suppose that I may not really know the content of my personal blog until I’ve gotten the chance to explore “prospective blog locations”. This aspect of becoming oriented in the blogosphere concerns me a great deal because nothing unnerves me more than wading through tons of textual information on an unfamiliar web site. On a positive note, although I have little experience with blogging, I am beginning to accumulate some very nice resources that may serve as excellent starting points for participation and initiating blog discussions. As you have been doing right along throughout this course, providing me with outstanding ideas regarding the subject of “homing in on my niche”. I will be utilizing the ideas you provided above, as well as those suggested in your article, “A Brief Guide To Blogging”. I’m sure I’ll be referring to your article quite frequently as I develop my personal blog. Also, I believe that once I locate a blog site that truly resonates with me in terms of becoming motivated enough to join in on the dialogue, will greatly influence how I’ll present the content of my comments and eventual personal blog. One must find a forum that is most comfortable for them and once this is established, style and tone, etc. should naturally fall into place.

Alicia, in response to your question, I offer the following proposition: as an attorney admitted in Ukraine and New York I am capable of serving and protecting the interests and rights of citizens of two countries. This idea embodies my skills, interests and values.

"What one idea do you have for a personal blog which you believe will best feature your unique combination of skills, interests, and values?"

Creative Transformation which will provide the opportunity to demonstrate my skills with writing, my creativity and permit the expression of my interests in problem solving, negotiations and innovative thinking. This also permits me to express my values of competitiveness, out of the box thinking, sense of urgency and need for inclusive approaches to building, running or creating growth in a business or industry.

"What one idea do you have for a personal blog which you believe will best feature your unique combination of skills, interests, and values?"

Creative Transformation which will provide the opportunity to demonstrate my skills with writing, my creativity and permit the expression of my interests in problem solving, negotiations and innovative thinking. This also permits me to express my values of competitiveness, out of the box thinking, sense of urgency and need for inclusive approaches to building, running or creating growth in a business or industry.

I would, as a personal blogger, tell the story of my life, both personal and professional. My love of music and ability to memorize show my survival tool as it intersects with my skills in active listening and teaching. The story, told over time would combine listening to comments with the empathy of response, the teaching and guiding as I explain with "the other" in mind, how I too have misconceptions about people with other disabilities, about big authoritative bosses before whom I've shuddered. If I tell you my story while listening to yours, the blogosphere becomes smaller, more intimate and you become bolder in your own self expression. It's not about me, it's about YOU, through me and our unexplored commonalities.

"The Long Night's Journey into day!" A reversed title of a literary piece you may have read in school. So begins an Estory that reminds me of my mom's words, "You really should write a book!" I never did but a blog would allow for a multi-faceted published book. Did you know you could make a phone call and have your voice recorded on a blog? Story doesn't have to be all about me. It's about how I got to my profession through a love for learning and who met me on that road less traveled during the from-birth to present saga. How was I introduced to computers? What made church work and pastoral care the right niche at one time and how did the niche or I disintegrate? Was it public speaking at a very early age (because nosy people always want to know stuff about life as a blind child who climbed trees to get that squirrel out of the tree) that made the microphone and subsequent interaction my friend? You're out there telling me you hate to talk in front of people, right? Sure, teaching is part of this blog as is learning, for instance from people without the excellent support in public school and the freedom to get lost in the snow and then panic because I was lost. Did you ever just shriek in utter desperation? I can empathize. Accomplishments that fill a beer barrel can be threatening to the boss if they're revealed at the wrong time...or they can lead to the belief in others who take less risks. Just ask the friends who watched the ladder shake as I hung Christmas lights from the roof. They'll speak and through them, you are welcomed out of the night. Take my outstretched hand...it's dark in here with only Erma Bombeck to wonder, "If life is a bowl of cherries, what are we doing here in the pitt?"

What one idea do you have for a personal blog which you believe will best feature your unique combination of skills, interests, and values?

This is an interesting question. I like the combining of skills with interests and values. They are in fact all tied together whether we like it or not.

For myself, I'd like to highlight some of the skills I've discovered that I have that I didn't really notice that I had - and not only put a focus on those but combine them with my interests both in and out of my working day (since i think they tie in nicely) and perhaps the highlight in values for me would be my work ethic and commitment to a task.