The Meaning of… Azure

azure |ˈa zh ər|

adjective

bright blue in color, like a cloudless sky : white beaches surrounded by azure seas.

Welcome Back to

“The Meaning of…”

I started this personal project a few days ago on my blog. I have taken hundreds of photographs that I love and keep going back to. They evoke memories, feelings and always associated words. The other day, someone described the theme running through the photos I take, my style if you will, as a photographic haiku (|ˈhīˌkoō; ˌhīˈkoō|, a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world). I felt very touched and also proud hearing that my photos stirred such emotions.

As a copywriter, I love words, of course, especially the many subtle ways their use can convey so many different meanings. A photograph can have even a wider range of individual meanings – and scores of emotions – attached to it than copywriting (which is and has to be more precise) can create.

Born was “The Meaning of…”

I’d love to see you comment on my definitions, hear yours and invite you to share your photos, ideas and linguistic quirks and cravings on my blog. This project reflects my tastes and sensibilities, and is by its very nature a very personal and subjective view on the meaning and significance of certain words, which I captured in photographs I have taken.

Until next time,

Daniela

Spinning Your Web: How influential are you online?

Fast Company’s The Influence Project

The Influence Project is open to anyone and everyone. All registered participants will have their picture appear in the November issue of Fast Company as part of an amazing photo spread. The more influence demonstrated by a participant, the bigger their picture will be. Even those with smaller social networks can learn something about their influence by participating.

To learn more, and register your profile, go to http://fcinf.com/v/chou or click here.

Contributors may discover that they are more influential than they think. Influence is not only about having the most friends or followers. It’s about being able to affect the behavior of those you interact with, to get others in your social network to act on a suggestion or recommendation. That’s what The Influence Project will measure.

The competition for 2010’s “Most Influential People” ends August 15 at midnight EST. Fast Company has created a blog dedicated to the project at www.fastcompany.com/influenceproject, where coverage will continue through the publication of Fast Company’s November 2010 issue.

Fast Company, an award-winning monthly innovation magazine and website, announced 
The Influence Project, a unique editorial experiment designed to answer the question:

Who are the most influential people, online, right now?

The Influence Project is open to anyone and everyone. All registered participants will have their picture appear in the November issue of Fast Company as part of an amazing photo spread. The more influence demonstrated by a participant, the bigger their picture will be. Even those with smaller social networks can learn something about their influence by participating.

Contributors may discover that they are more influential than they think. Influence is not only about having the most friends or followers. It’s about being able to affect the behavior of those you interact with, to get others in your social network to act on a suggestion or recommendation. That’s what The Influence Project will measure.

To learn more, and register your profile, go to http://fcinf.com/v/chou or click here.

The competition for 2010’s Most Influential People ends August 15 at midnight EST. Fast Company has created a blog dedicated to the project at www.fastcompany.com/influenceproject, where coverage will continue through the publication of Fast Company’s November issue.

We are all prone to a good dose of procrastination or “what are my priorities again?!” struggles.

Some days (or weeks, months,… years) just don’t flow the way we want them to.

There are many, many different reasons why we tell ourselves that we will just do that particularly nasty-looking thing later:  The summer sunshine is too tempting, the winter cold too paralysing and plunging us into lethargy.  Or something needs to be done first, urgently. Now. Sorry, just can’t wait. Honest, the world will end if I don’t deal with that (more pleasant looking) thing right now. Uh-uh!

But let’s face it, most of these oh-so-urgent (read: preferred) things can wait a while.

What it really comes down to is this:
We all rather deal with the pretty prince(ss) than the ugly frog first.
That ugly amphibian can wait, thank you very much!

Well, it can’t.

More often than not, the things we like to do least are the ones that are the most important to tackle.
If not for what they are in themselves – the insurance for the car or business IS important, even if it is boring and mind-numbing to get through the forest of paperwork and jargon – then for the challenges they pose.

What is the real reason I keep postponing a particular task? Do I worry about spending money and my financial security, or perhaps about not understanding the insurance jargon and subsequently getting the wrong cover?

So, what to do?

I have used a few techniques to help me hone in on the nasty-looking items first, get them out of the way. I find that the smaller, less daunting tasks end up looking quite pretty afterwards – and are a lot easier and faster to deal with once the dread of  the ugly toad has vanished.

To kiss the ugly frogs good-bye efficiently check out Ask Rebecca How’s own Rebecca Well’s blog here.
Or perhaps you prefer to chuck a tomato at the little blighters? Try the Pomodoro Technique.

What works for you?

How do you set your priorities & overcome procrastination?

And now, I better sort that insurance out…
Until soon,
Daniela

Is there no accounting for taste?

Don’t judge too fast, that crazy idea you – or they – have might just work!

Marketing “guru” Seth Godin on how and why to separate “not for me” from “not for anyone”.
Read what he has to say here.