Sometimes we do and say things without even thinking. We don’t consider how our words or actions will affect other people in the short or long run. Instead, we are too often fueled by anger and frustration, acting completely on instinct. Now, I’m all about living in the moment and enjoying each day without worrying incessantly about the future, but that doesn’t mean building relationships on an uneven, cracked foundation that will never stand the test of time.

This post was inspired by my grandfather. Nearly 91 years old, and ‘living the life.’ Over a year ago, I wrote about his philosophy of doing whatever the hell he wanted and put himself first. Sounds great in theory, but not so much in practice. I’ll admit, that I don’t know all that much about how he was as a father when my mom and her brothers were kids. But, what I do know is consistent with the man he is today and the relationships he has with his children now that they are adults. Although he is at times generous and caring, he is more often selfish and inconsiderate. He’s still doing a great job of living life how he wants to live it… except for the part where his priorities suck, and it seems like his family is pretty close to the bottom of the list.

Sorry…I have to stop myself. I could obviously go on about this for hours, but that’s not why I wrote this post. See, the one good thing about my grandpa being the way he is, is that it’s taught me exactly how I don’t want to be. I don’t ever want to be someone whose own family dreads seeing them. I don’t ever want to make people I love cry from hurt and frustration because of the way my words and actions impact them.  Instead, I’m learning from my grandpa’s mistakes, and I hope you will too. Appreciate the people in your life, especially your family. Be conscious of how the things that you say and do affect others. If you build relationships on cracked foundations, don’t be surprised when they come crumbling down. Invest the time and effort into building strong foundations with the people who mean the most to you.

P.S. He’s coming to visit this weekend through early next week…with his lady friend. Stay tuned for amusing tweets.

My mom recently took a trip on Southwest Airlines, and she tore an article out of their in-flight magazine for me to read. It was called “The Pursuers,” and it had the subtitle: Why a second (or third) job could be the secret to career happiness. The article tells the stories of four people, ages 31-76, who have taken on more than one career in order to live the most fulfilling life possible. Each of them has different ways of maintaining balance in their busy lives, and their jobs definitely span the spectrum, but they all have one thing in common: they’re happy.  Sure, they may be a little unconventional, but I think that’s a big part of why they’re so happy.  Heck, one guy’s a musician and an astrophysicist…how cool is that?!

All of this out of the box thinking, got me thinking. Maybe the solution to unhappiness in the workplace isn’t quitting our job, throwing caution to the wind, risking everything and starting over. If we like our job, but don’t love it, maybe we just need to take on another job, or a hobby, that lets us spend time doing what we’re truly passionate about. I certainly commend and admire the people who take a leap of faith and start over in order to pursue something they love. But, in this economy, not everyone can afford to do that…and even in a better economy, some people might not want to. That’s totally okay.

I have a great job, but I don’t write as much as I’d like to. That’s part of why I started this blog. I also love to copy edit. Finding and correcting grammatical and sentence structure errors makes me smile. Strange, I know.  But, I really do enjoy it. So, I’ve found ways to get my editing fix, occasionally reading over blog posts and e-books for friends. And yet, I’m not sure that’s enough. After reading this article, I think I might follow the example of the pursuers, and seek out some freelance work. If a 76-year-old man can be an assemblyman and a lifeguard, I think I can handle some writing and editing on top of my 9-5.

So, I want to hear from you. Do you have more than one job? How do you maintain balance? Why did you decide to take on another job? How do you integrate what you’re passionate about into your everyday life?

Photo Credit

Me! How could I be the common thread between these three very different things, you ask? Each of them represents one of the internships I had in college, three very different experiences that taught me many important lessons I could never have learned in a classroom.

Social Action

The summer after my sophomore year of college, I participated in the Religious Action Center‘s Machon Kaplan summer internship program in Washington, D.C. (The RAC is the social action arm of the Reform Movement of Judaism.) Although most of my fellow interns worked at various non-profits and government agencies across the District, I was one of three to intern at the RAC itself. I spent my days in the Communications office, organizing press contact lists, and going through tapes from speeches by the director. My major project was working on the website, reformatting informational pages on various issues so that they would be more appealing to the Web reader. I learned about the challenges faced by social action organizations, and finding the courage and strength to stand up for what you believe in.

Muppets

During the following summer, I interned again, this time in New York City at Sesame Workshop. For those who don’t know, Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street. Let me just say that I freaking love Elmo! I am not ashamed to tell you that I have two stuffed ones currently residing in my apartment. (More on the cute red monster later). So, while at Sesame, I worked in the Digital Media department on a variety of projects. They were in the process of doing a major overhaul on SesameStreet.com and SesameWorkshop.org, so I spent a lot of time helping with QA testing for the sites. I got to do a little writing and editing, although I’m not sure if they ever actually used my stuff. My boss was very dedicated to her job, and was also the head of the department, so I didn’t see much of her most days. I learned the importance of taking initiative and coming up with useful projects on my own. I also established relationships with other people in the department so I felt comfortable going to them if I needed something to do when my boss wasn’t around. And, I discovered that cubicles and carpet do in fact come in bright primary colors.

It was pretty crazy the entire four months that I was there. People worked long hours and ate lunch at their desks. I only really had one friend, a freelance Web designer named Chris. I learned a lot from him too, like how difficult it is to freelance, what it takes to establish yourself in the industry, and how incredibly valuable health benefits can be. I also learned that it’s perfectly okay to let your inner child out to play sometimes. One day, Kevin Clash, the Muppeteer behind Elmo, came into the office to record some video for the new site. Other Muppeteers had been in before, but he was the one I was really looking forward to. I had recently read his book, My Life As a Furry Red Monster, which is all about the things he’s learned from playing Elmo. At first, I thought asking him to sign it would be silly… but then I got over it after reminding myself that I would probably never have this opportunity again.  I met him, and he signed the book, and I’m so glad I asked.

Pro Football Players

For a while, I considered studying abroad. I love traveling, and I’ve been to a lot of amazing places, but when it comes to months at a time, I really prefer being close to home . So, I came up with a compromise, and spent a semester in Washington, D.C. on a program through The Washington Center. I went in not knowing anybody, and came out with some great friends and fantastic experiences. TWC coordinated an impressive speaker series for us every Monday afternoon, and one night a week, I took a Journalism class taught by a professional journalist. The rest of the time was spent interning. It was pretty close to the hours of a full-time job. The first lesson I learned was how to manage my time while working 4 1/2 days a week.

You’re probably wondering where the heck I interned and what it has to do with pro football players. I was the Communications Intern for NFL PLAYERS, the licensing and marketing subsidiary of  the NFL Players Association. The next time you see a commercial with a football player in it, look for the little red logo. That’s the sign that NFL PLAYERS has approved the ad and made sure the player was compensated.  In addition to protecting the players, they also maintain an info packed website: NFLPLAYERS.com, full of news and info on all things NFL players.

If you know me, you know that I am a big (insert height joke here) Patriots fan, and I have been pretty much my whole life. I just love the game of football, so this internship was pretty much a dream come true for me. I was an intern, but once I had proven myself, I was given a lot of responsibility.  My supervisor really wanted me to get as much experience as possible. I was able to weigh in on rough cuts for the Helmets Off television series, work on press releases, and help sort through photos for the print and microsite aspects of their current marketing campaign.

But, I have to say that my favorite project was the work I did for NFLPLAYERS.com.  There was a program called Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP that honored NFL players who were standouts in their community and did a lot to give back. A group of players were selected as finalists, and each one was recognized with a playground build or a field refurbishment in their community which they participated in. At the end of the season, a panel of judges chose one player as the winner, and they were recognized during Super Bowl weekend. I would do research on each of the finalists and their community service involvement, prepare questions, and then interview them on the phone on the day of their building project. Not only was it freaking awesome to be able to talk to professional athletes, it was also incredible training that I never got in any of my classes. For the football fans out there, some of the guys I talked to included: Isaac Bruce, Kevin Mawae, Tommie Harris, Warrick Dunn, and Antwaan Randel El. (I was supposed to talk to Kurt Warner too, but unfortunately we kept missing each other.)

This opportunity was given to me because I earned it with consistent hard work and professionalism.  It was great to be able to show people a different side to these guys than what is normally portrayed in the media. I also earned the chance to interview someone from my favorite team. In my last week at NFL PLAYERS, I got to call a few of the Pats and see if anyone answered. I had prepared questions for all of them, but unfortunately no one picked up. One day, I decided I would try once more before I left for the night, and my determination was rewarded. Matt Light picked up the phone, and although the only reason he picked up was because he thought he recognized the number, he was very kind and courteous and answered all of my questions. I even found a way to tell him how much of a fan I am without sounding like a blubbering idiot. Awesome!

Needless to say, I’m a major supporter of internships, plural. No matter how renowned your university is, or what your professors have done in life, there are just some things that you can only learn through hands on experience. Chances are, you’re going to have to do some things you don’t like while you’re there. Some days will be boring and tedious. But, some days will be absolutely amazing and totally worth it. If anyone wants to learn more about my experiences, let me know. I’d be glad to chat with you!

I have a little voice inside my head. We all do. It’s our conscience, our moral compass, it provides encouragement and words of warning. Some people have quieter inner voices that only pipe up when needed. Others have blabbermouths who never seem to never shut up. My little voice is quite the chatty one. Always going on and on about things, overthinking, overanalyzing, self-conscious, and second guessing. I have anxiety issues, I’ve always had them. It’s better now, medicine helps, but I don’t think I’ll ever have a quiet mind. Recently, it’s been on overdrive. Stress makes it worse.

Standing on the subway, I look around, and if someone’s looking at me, a million thoughts run through my head. Is there something on my face? Is my hair a big frizz ball? Did I step in something? Somewhere deep down, I know it’s nothing, but it takes a while to make myself stop worrying. I turn on my iPod, open my book, breathe in and out, look away…and, eventually, I move on.

I’m walking down the hallway of my office to the kitchen. I can hear my stupid shoe squeaking with every step, and it bugs the crap out of me. I’m nervous that everyone can hear it, or I’m going to drop something, or my shirt’s riding up in the back. It’s silly, I tell myself. What am I worried about? It’s literally a 30 second walk. Everyone is doing their work, and no one’s paying attention.

I want to call one of my friends who I haven’t spoken to in a while, but sometimes it takes me a few tries to actually press send. I think through things I have to tell them, what’s been going on since we last spoke. As the phone rings, I plan what I’ll say in a voicemail if they don’t answer. The anticpation drives me crazy, and sometimes I’m just as happy to leave a message after the beep  as I would be if they actually answered.

I know that I’m not alone. Everyone gets nervous and worries. Plenty of people deal with anxiety every day. Certain bloggers have even been brave enough write about it, and I thank them for giving me the courage to do the same.  I’m not writing this post so you’ll feel bad for me, or because I want you to cut me a break. I’m writing it for everyone else who struggles with worry and anxiety every waking second. I want you all to know that you are stronger than you think, and when it comes down to it, you are in charge of your own life.  Sometimes the little voice inside your head is going to run its little mouth, and there won’t be much you can do about it. You’ll probably never have a completely quiet mind, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a quieter mind. Distract yourself, learn what sets you off and avoid it, take medicine, or go to therapy…if all else fails…tell the little voice to shut up. As I’m writing this, I’m second guessing whether I should post it. Worried about what people will think. Will anyone comment? Is this too much like a diary entry? Shut up, and click publish.

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am only for myself, what am I?

And, if not now, when?”  –Hillel

The meaning and interpretation of these questions, posed by Hillel (rabbi and scholar) many years ago, have long been the subject of discussion and debate.  They are questions that force us to look inward and truly consider the way we are living our lives.

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” When it comes down to it, we have to take care of ourselves. We can’t fully depend on others, or let others depend fully on us. There comes a time when we need to be selfish. Go to that doctor’s appointment you’ve been putting off. Take a day off from work and do nothing. Call it a “mental health day.” If there’s a movie you really want to see, but all of your friends laugh when you suggest it, go by yourself. (You won’t have to share the popcorn!) If you’ve got too much on your plate, say no. Stand up for what you believe in. Take a hard look at the people in your life. If you’re giving 110% to a friendship and the other person is only giving 30%, cut your losses. It’ll hurt at first, but you’ll be better for it in the end. Look at yourself in the mirror until you can see your own beauty. Buy yourself that special something you’ve been admiring for months. If you need justification,  call it a holiday present to you, from you. It’s great to be a giver, to be generous and take care of others, but you have to accept things from others sometimes too.

“If I am only for myself, what am I?” Be careful with this one, because the answer could easily be “an asshole.”  Let yourself be selfish sometimes, but not all the time. Put yourself first, but be conscious of the feelings of those around you. Find something that brings you joy and brightens the lives of others, whether it be sending holiday cards to friends and family, or volunteering at a local food bank. It may take time, but find a balance between selfish and selfless. Too much of either will undoubtedly affect your quality of life.

“If not now, when?” Carpe diem, seize the day! The truth is, that we never know what tomorrow will bring. We don’t know how much time we have left on this Earth. So, ask yourself this third question whenever you have doubts about doing something fulfilling.  Don’t wait for a “better time,”  because there may not be one. One of my mantras is “make every moment count,” and it’s all about not taking a single moment of our lives for granted.

This all sounds fine and dandy, but sometimes life gets in the way.  We are faced with crippling challenges and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But, no matter how crappy our lives might be at any given point, we are still so lucky to be alive. Be there for others, but remember to be there for yourself too. It’s okay to be sad for a little while, as long as you pick yourself up afterwards and keep on going. It all comes back to Hillel’s first question: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” Sure, we all have amazing people in our lives who love and care for us, but in the end, if we are not for ourselves, then the chances are that no one else will be either.

How would you answer these questions? Do you think they apply to anyone of any age and background? Are they a good moral compass?

I know, you’re probably staring quizzically at your computer screen wondering what I’m smoking, but bear with me. My mom loves reality TV. I have sat through hours of Survivor, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, the Next Food Network Star (I could go on, but I won’t) with quizzical looks of my own. Some of these shows really make  you wonder about our society. But finally, I found a reality TV show that I actually like, a show that I continue to watch on my own, even though I don’t live with my mom anymore. That show is the Biggest Loser. Stop shaking your heads, you reality TV haters, because even you can learn something from this one.

For those who don’t know, the Biggest Loser is a weight loss show. Fifteen or so overweight individuals are chosen to live on the Biggest Loser ranch and compete with one another to lose the most weight. They are placed on teams and participate in challenges that require both mental and physical strength, as well as endurance. Two trainers work with the contestants, teaching them about fitness and nutrition so they can lead healthier lives.

Not only have these people made the decision to change their lives, but they’re doing it on national TV. Every week, they sweat and struggle for all to see. They stand shirtless on a scale as their weight is displayed on TV screens across America. We watch them face the inner demons that drove them to seek comfort in food in the first place. These are some of the reasons why I watch this show. I truly admire the courage and drive of the contestants. So many of us can’t deal with these things in the privacy of our own homes, neighborhood gym, or even sitting on a shrinks’ couch.

One of my favorite contestants is Daniel, a fellow Gen Y and 20-year-old student from North Carolina, who once weighed more than 450 lbs. Unfortunately, he was eliminated in this week’s episode, but he has already lost more than 200 lbs and will continue losing weight at home. Maybe we should be following his example when pursuing goals of our own.

What’s more, the show does a lot of good, challenging viewers to lose weight along with the contestants, and providing a place for people to connect and share their stories. The show also supports a program called the Pound for Pound Challenge which benefits Feeding America.

Just as we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, I encourage you not to judge a TV show by its genre, or other people by their outward appearances. New and different can be scary, but it can also be exciting and challenging. Believe in yourself, set goals and work as hard as you can to achieve them. If you need some inspiration, just turn on your TV.

What do you think of reality TV shows? Honestly, who watches them? (Any fellow fans of the Biggest Loser?) Do you agree that there are valuable lessons to be learned from a show like this? Who or what inspires you to work towards your goals?

You know the slightly annoying, yet amusing, song people sometimes sing after “Happy Birthday” that asks “how old are you now?” It’s an easy question to answer, although some of us don’t like to admit the answer. Birthdays mark our years on Earth, and keeping track of them reminds us how old we are. But, this one number should not define us. I am 24 years old, but life experience has given me the wisdom of someone much older. I’ve always been mature for my age, while still keeping the child alive within me.  I’m not saying screw birthdays, or rebel against the concept of age, just don’t judge someone or make assumptions or generalizations based on the number of birthdays they’ve had.

One of my co-workers came into our office yesterday to tell us about a recent break up with his girlfriend. Apparently he told one lie, “to protect her,” and she broke up with him. He stressed that the lie wasn’t a big deal, and that she shouldn’t have reacted so strongly. Then he went on with an age-based rant that went something like this, “The thing is, she’s only 24, and if she’d been through a bunch of bad relationships like I have, she would realize how trivial this is in the scheme of things.” This co-worker and my office mate are both in their 30s. As they continued discussing their shared wisdom, I sat here thinking that I’m 24 and, although I haven’t been through “a bunch of bad relationships,” I’ve dealt with some pretty tough stuff. True, his (now ex-) girlfriend is the same age as me, but the reasons she reacted strongly to his lie probably have very little to do with her age.  Maybe she has had bad relationships in the past, I don’t know her so I can’t say. But,  listening to my co-worker provide this line of reasoning reminded me how dangerous generalizations can be.

Maybe what bothers me is not my co-worker making these statements, he does know the girl in question very well, but that my office mate hopped on the ageism bandwagon so quickly. Every age group and generation has certain stigmas associated with it, that’s just a fact of life. But, that doesn’t mean it always has to be that way. Remember this: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Have you overheard or experienced ageism or been judged unfairly because of your age? How did you react? Do you think this is something that will always happen or is there something we can do about it? Maybe it’s not a battle worth fighting?

This post is a follow-up to last week’s Becoming the Best Version of Yourself Part I.  Today, I want to share tactics for getting noticed at work and how to prepare for an event.

Sam Horn, the author of What’s Holding You Back?, the book that inspired these posts, believes that standing out at work requires courage and confidence. We need to create opportunities where decision makers can see us in action, when we can really put our skills into practice. Sam has a theory called ‘power positioning.’ She describes it as “intentionally positioning ourselves wherever luck is most likely to happen,” and suggests volunteering for leadership roles where we can add value and influence the results.  My advice is to take on more responsibility and put yourself out there. In these uncertain times, it’s so important to remind your employer of the value you provide to your company.

In last week’s post, I shared tips on working a room. Now, what if you have to say something in front of a group of people?  Successfully introducing yourself and becoming part of a conversation is one thing, but standing up in front of everyone and preventing yourself from sounding like a bumbling idiot is quite another. Sam suggests these five steps to prepare yourself and feel confident when the time comes:

1. Conduct a mental dress rehearsal.
2. Picture the bad stuff and plan how you can handle your worst nightmare with poise.
3. Use the drive (or subway) time to the event wisely.
4. Create a one- or two-word command to clear out mental clutter.
5. Control your thoughts during downtime with rituals.

She also offers these wise words of advice:  ”From this day forward, when preparing for a scary event, refuse to focus on your fears. Choose instead to focus on positive projections. Dwell on how you want to behave and mentally rehearse your ideal performance…practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes better.”

Now, some wise words from this Sam. I used to tutor teenagers who were preparing for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. We spent the majority of our time preparing and practicing the portion they would read from the Torah. In case you don’t know, the Torah (aka the Old Testament) does not have vowels, so it can be pretty daunting.  I would tell my students to do the best that they could, and if they messed up, just keep going.

Honestly, very few people know the Torah well enough to know if someone makes a mistake, but this approach applies to public speaking as well. If you get flustered, don’t say “oops,” “I’m sorry,” or “That’s not what I meant to say.”  Keep going! As long as you don’t draw attention to your mistake, chances are that very few people will notice. When all else fails, smile, crack a joke, and move on.

This is one of my favorite quotes from the book, and I think it’s something we should all keep in the back of our minds:

“If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. And supposing you have tried and failed again and again, you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.”  –Mary Pickford

How do you prepare for a “scary event?”  What have you done to stand out at work? Are there any tactics you use to maintain your confidence?

Over the past few months, I’ve been working hard to become the best version of myself.  As I mentioned in my most recent update on the subject, I was lucky to find a great book that’s been a very helpful guide on this journey. One of my favorite things about this blog is that I get to share my experiences with all of you and hopefully help you through similar situations.  As I was going through the aforementioned awesome book, What’s Holding You Back? By Sam Horn, I came across a number of invaluable tips and tricks that I want to share with you.  There are so many that I can’t fit them all in one post!  So to start, here are some tips for Gen Yers who want to become the best versions of themselves:

Working a Room:

Many of us Gen Yers are still newbies in the world of work. Going to our first (or second or tenth) work party, industry event, or happy hour with colleagues can be totally nerve-wracking. We want to make a positive first impression and be engaging conversationalists, without overstepping or seeming too confident. To start off on the right foot, try to remember this acronym as you meet new people:

SMILE

S=Smile (self-explanatory)

M=Make the Shake (aka shake their hand)

I=Intriguing Introduction (Don’t diminish what you do with words like “just,” instead explain your job in a unique, interesting, and memorable way)

L=Learn the Name (Do whatever you have to do to remember their name. Try repeating or an alliterative adjective.)

E=Eye Contact (Should also be self-explanatory)

After the initial introductions, things can get a bit awkward. As the new person, you might feel like all of the attention is on you, and that can be pretty overwhelming. As Abigail Van Buren said, “There are two types of people in the world–those who walk into a room and say, ‘There you are,’ and those who say, ‘Here I am!’”  When you’re the first type of person, you don’t have to wonder what you should say next, instead you ask yourself what the other person would like to say.  Sam (the author of the book, not me in 3rd person) suggests asking “What?” and “How?” questions because they lead to more than a one word answer, and starting questions with the words, “Tell me.”  The best way to get the attention off of you is to turn the attention on someone else.

To keep the conversation flowing smoothly, use the old journalism trick of asking follow up questions. All you have to do is listen to what the other person is saying and use their answers to previous questions to find out even more about them. If they touched briefly on a recent trip to a foreign country, ask them what their favorite part of the trip was. Listen to their answer, and when they mention something that sparks your interest, say “tell me more about…”  Aside from eliminating awkwardness from the conversation, this method also allows you to pay attention and truly engage in conversation, instead of worrying about what you’re going to say next.

So, you’ve had a great conversation, but it’s getting to the point where you’d like to move on and meet someone new. How do you do so tactfully and professionally? Sam offers Four Steps to Courteously Closing Conversations:

1. Interrupt and say his name.

2. Summarize what he’s been saying.

3. Start wrapping up with “As soon as” or “I wish.”

4. Start verbally and physically departing.

Some people are blessed with a natural confidence. But, everyone has their moments, so I hope you found this post helpful. What do you think of these tips? What else have you tried that works? Anyone have a more appropriate acronym than SMILE?

A blog post is not a school paper or a newspaper article. So, if you have a few typos and grammatical errors it doesn’t really matter, right? Wrong. One of the most important things for a blogger is establishing credibility. If we really want people to read our blog and keep coming back to it, we have to be credible.  There are so many factors that contribute to credibility that it’s easy for some to get lost in the shuffle.  It should go without saying that we have to know what we’re writing about and present our content in the proper way. This means not spouting off generalizations or random “facts” without backing them up or explaining our reasoning. But, it’s also about how we present our content physically.

Think back to the famous debate between JFK and Richard Nixon. JFK presented himself better on camera (he was also much better looking in the first place), and people paid attention. It may seem shallow, but the truth is that first impressions really do have a big impact on how someone perceives you. An even simpler example: two people show up to interview for the same position. One is wearing a suit and tie, and has all of his materials neatly organized in a portfolio. The other is wearing slacks and a button down shirt, but no tie or jacket. They have a copy of their resume folded up in their pocket. On first impressions alone, before either one speaks a word, the one who put in the time and effort into how he presented himself already has an advantage.

So, what does this have to do with blog posts, typos and grammatical errors? A lot actually. I had the absolute pleasure of helping out my friend Matt by copy editing the 50+ posts from the Inconvenience of Change series. Matt is planning on turning the series into an e-book, and asked me to proofread the content before he took the next step. I love editing, in fact, I’m the crazy kid who looks for errors everywhere (playbills, menus, signs, etc).  In addition to the excitement of releasing my inner editor, I really enjoyed reading through these posts again. Some pretty amazing people were involved in this series, and I was inspired all over again (stay tuned for a post on that subject).

The content was great, but there were several recurring errors that I noticed as I read through the posts. I know that not everyone is anal like me, but part of how you present yourself and your ideas on your blog is actually in the words themselves. Wouldn’t you hate to write a beautiful, heartfelt post, but have someone discount your content because of typos? Just like the person who takes the time and effort to put on a suit and tie automatically has an advantage, a blogger who takes the time and effort to read through their posts before posting them is laying the foundation for credibility.

Beware:

• Split Infinitives: “I need you all to really work hard.”
  • To work is the infinitive, but by placing “really” in between “to” and “work,” the infinitive is split. Instead, try: “I really need you all to work hard.”
• Punctuation inside quotation marks: Punctuation goes inside quotation marks, no matter what the punctuation is, whether the quotes are single or double.
  • Using the example above, I wrote …and “work,” instead of …and “work”,.
• Than vs. then, affect vs. effect: These are both really common errors, and the best way to learn them is by practicing.
  • As a general rule, than is used in comparison: My house is bigger than yours. Then is used with a sequence of events or actions: I ate the apple, then I ate the pear.
  • Affect is the verb form: This cold is really affecting my ability to concentrate; And effect is the noun: I can feel the effect of this cold on my ability to concentrate.
• Their, there, they’re:
  • Their: The possessive form, for example: They brought their boat ashore.
  • There: Refers to location, for example: The boat is over there.
  • They’re: Contraction of “they are,” for example: They’re bringing the boat ashore. So, if you wanted to include all three in a sentence about the boat: They’re bringing their boat ashore and parking it over there.
• Typos: There are obviously no “rules” or tips I can give on typos. Just read through your posts before you publish them, and use spell check. If you’re not grammatically inclined, find a friend who is, and ask them to give your posts a read-through. Time permitting, I’m glad to help anyone who needs it.

Do you agree with me, do things like typos and gramatical errors affect your credibility as a blogger? Do you proofread before you click publish? If not, why not? Are there any other common errors you’ve noticed?

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