Civic Reflection: President’s Day

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Civic Reflection: President’s Day

Today is President’s Day. I get the day off. I’m not very sure why, except that maybe Presidents are worth celebrating with a short sabbatical. What am I supposed to do today? What is the intention of this holiday? Does anyone really take the day off work and ponder John Quincy Adams?

These questions lead me to more questions of leadership and power. Are President’s worth celebrating? More than spiritual leaders or civil rights leaders or just well-respected community leaders? I have no problem celebrating Grandparent’s Day or Administrative Assistants Day.

So here’s the basis of my civic reflections on President’s Day:

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Website Analytics 101

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Website Analytics 101

[NOTE: This website analytics post was published in 2010, which was a very, very long time ago in computer years. I’ve left this post live, both for fun and because some of it is still relevant. If you need help with your website or Google Analytics, please feel free to contact me for help or new info.]

Web analytics is becoming a normal and necessary practice, but I think many non-profits and artists are still working with websites that don’t provide them the info they need to grow, flourish, or even function well. So this entry will be an overview of web analytics, as well as a plea to install or become familiar with your website data (instructions on that further below).

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Concept2 Holiday Rowing Challenge: Complete!

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Concept2 Holiday Rowing Challenge: Complete!

Just a quick post here: I completed the Concept2 Holiday Rowing Challenge! I rowed 100,100 meters to be exact. It was not easy, but now it is done.

And I will not return to the gym until Monday!

The Concept2 Challenge

This Challenge has been great, though. If rowers make it past the 100,000 meter mark, Concept2 will make a donation to the Center for an Agricultural Economy here in Vermont. Mission accomplished.

Challenges like this keep my gym routine fresh, link me to a healthy community and push my capabilities and effort physically. I haven’t seen other gym equipment companies rally their users quite like this, but if they did, I’d be excited to participate.

 

Photo credit: Garage Gyms

Challenged by the Concept2 Holiday Rowing Challenge

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Challenged by the Concept2 Holiday Rowing Challenge

Hopefully, next Friday, I’ll be able to post a blog saying I’ve achieved complete success in this Concept2 Holiday Rowing Challenge. To do so, I’ll have to row a whopping 100,000 meters at my local gym, First in Fitness.

Right now, though, this Challenge is kicking my butt. I’ve increased my speed and decreased the time it takes me to row 5,000 meters, which is my goal for each session. But there was one day this week when my muscles needed a break and then another when all the rowing machines were being used. I have five days left that I can make it to the gym, in which I’ll have to row 5,831 meters each day to achieve the goal. Ugh.

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Your Website is Just a First Date

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Your Website is Just a First Date

What do you bring on a first date? Tax forms, divorce/custody paperwork from a previous marriage, diary entries, and three letters of reference, right? Of course not!

On a first date, you bring a big smile, your charming personality, and some witty conversation. Combine that with wearing clean clothes and doing something interesting and you have the makings of a great first date.

Now, let me clarify: I’m not in the business of matchmaking or relationship advice. I’m actually talking websites here.

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Book Review: Robin Hood Marketing by Katya Andresen

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Book Review: Robin Hood Marketing by Katya Andresen

Have you read Robin Hood Marketing: Stealing Corporate Savy to Sell Just Causes by Katya Andresen? You should.

Andresen wrote a book to really kick-start your forward-thinking, new approach to cause marketing. She so clearly points out that our passion for our causes doesn’t always translate to the average citizen taking (or not taking) action. Then she proceeds to instruct how to make this transition.

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Concept2 Holiday Rowing Challenge: 74,855 Meters Left

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Concept2 Holiday Rowing Challenge: 74,855 Meters Left

Last week I committed to the Concept2 Holiday Rowing Challenge. My goal is to row 100,000 meters between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’m glad to report that I made it to the gym every day I needed to and that I’m totally on target!

There are two great things about this Challenge. The more personal is that it is really pushing me in my workouts. I’ve realized that my past visits to the gym, while regular, have not really extended my physical limitations. Being on the rowing machine and having a distance I need to row every day really makes me push my speed and time.

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