A poem

I once danced on the wings of an angel. 

Wrapped in a four-leaf clover, she lay me down on a field of petals.

Though I lay still,
I felt my heart soar 
Through the clouds above.

I envisioned a red bird with wings outstretched 
Gliding through the blue sky.

On that day it was hard to recall the snake that had drug me down just a short time ago.

It was hard to imagine the tightened ribcage, the deadened eyes,
The weight of the world on my chest.

Today I danced on the wings of an angel.

3 Things I Learned from Self-Publishing My First eBook: And what I'll do differently next time

I published my first eBook in 2015. I was thrilled to get my words out there and anxious to see how people received them. Now that my book has been out for a bit, I want to share what I learned and what I will do differently the next time I self-publish a book.

First, I decided to publish on Lulu.com. I assumed publishing directly on Amazon would be more complicated, and I was impatient to get my book out there. I also saw that Lulu had an option to push the eBook out to other sites, including Amazon, iBooks, Goodreads, and more.

On Lulu, I was able to format the document for my book and upload it to the site. I was also able to create a cover page and follow the other necessary steps. I registered with Lulu for my ISBN and had my eBook online and for sale within a few short hours. A huge benefit to Lulu is that they also publish hard copy books that you can design online. After a few people asked about ordering a hard copy, I added a paperback option.

Here's what I learned:

1. Choose a searchable title

I named my book "So, My ______ Is Clinically Depressed (Girlfriend, Boyfriend, Partner, Sister, Brother, Best Friend, Daughter, Son, Mother, Father)".

Clever? Maybe. Good for searching? Definitely NOT.

Let's put aside the fact that it's long and potentially confusing. The words "clinically depressed" are also not the best versions of the related words: clinical and depression. When you search for "clinically depressed" on Amazon, my book comes up first! But I'm guessing that much more often people search for "clinical depression" or just "depression".

Next time I will put more thought and research into choosing a title.

2. Invest in a good cover

I created my own book cover. As mentioned earlier I was impatient and ready. When it came time to publish, my goal was simply for it to look somewhat professional. I grabbed a free image and spent about an hour designing this:

Paperback

eBook

At the risk of a terrible pun, this cover is DEPRESSING. Yes, it may fit the subject, but it's not exactly alluring.

Next time I will hire a graphic designer for my book cover.

3. Publish directly on Amazon

Lulu is a fantastic site and I hate to direct people away from it, but Amazon is where it's at. My book is published as an eBook on Amazon via Lulu, but that process took a while so I first marketed it on Lulu. I imagine I lost many people simply due to unfamiliarity with the site.

Also, as I said, when people began to request paperback copies I created that on Lulu. Now I end up recommending different links for my eBook vs. the paperback copy. It's simply not clear or easy and that's what you want to give people.

Next time I will be patient and publish directly on Amazon--then figure out how to publish a paperback copy on Amazon.

These are the three biggest lessons I learned from my first experience publishing an eBook. Writers out there, add your advice! I need it.

Watch for my next book on How to Become a Freelancer! (working title ...)

Teleworking in 2016: Not your grandma's teleworking

Thirty-three years have passed since Jack Nilles first coined the term “telecommuting”. Despite criticisms about productivity and Marissa Mayer’s 2012 decision to stop all telecommuting at Yahoo!, telecommuting has only become more popular. We now favor a more active name: “teleworking”, also coined by Nilles. According to this popularized infographic from the New Jersey Institute of Technology MBA program, the number of remote job listings went up 27% from 2014 to 2015. That’s impressive growth.

It would seem teleworking is here to stay, and more and more often the smartest and most creative workers demand it.

But what makes up an effective teleworking environment in today's workplace?

1. Innovative collaboration tools

You absolutely MUST have a collaboration tool to facilitate communication and cooperation among remote workers or between remote and non-remote workers. You have to take the time to pick the right one, socialize it, help people to use it in the most effective ways, and get full support from top management as well as team leaders.

This article from PCMag gives a list of the top collaboration tools in 2015, as well as an intro paragraph that really hits some good points on why you need this type of tool.

2. Shared workspaces

Shared workspaces gained steam with the tech boom and the rise of remote workers who needed a more controlled place to work—or maybe just a reason to get out of the house. Today they have become much more than that. Large companies with office space often also have a membership at a shared workspace—for large meetings, for overflow, for particular types of collaboration—and most relevant to this article, for meetings with telecommuters.

Not only is it a good idea, millennials have begun to expect it. You can cater your level of membership (and thus costs) to your needs. You can get one membership for a workspace that is nationwide if your remote workers are scattered.

The above linked article provides a list of the more popular companies providing shared workspaces: Pipeline, WeWork, Grind, NextSpace, Roam, Industrial, and the list is growing.

3. Trust & flexibility

When remote working started to become mainstream, there were a lot of questions about productivity and accountability. Would remote workers still work hard, work well, and stay on task? And the underlying question, could we trust them?

I suggest that you should always aim to trust your employees. Someone can slack off down the hall from you just as easily as from home, and studies have shown that productivity generally goes up with remote workers.

Also, remote workers tend to demand more flexibility as far as when they work and how they get things done. Focus on the end goal and be clear about parameters if you do need them specifically available at certain times. Otherwise, allow the flexibility and reap the benefits of happier workers.

10 Unique Gifts to Impress your Family and Friends

Occasionally I come across a gift idea that I want to share with everyone I know. When you see certain products, you immediately start racking your brain for the right person who would love it because it is just that cool. No matter who is on your list, you can find the right gift on this list of 10 ideas--and most on Amazon with Prime shipping--and most currently ON SALE.


1. For the organizer
These eBags Packing Cubes make it easy to keep your suitcase organized. Do you have that one family member who color coordinates their closet? This is the perfect gift for them.

http://www.amazon.com/eBags-Packing-Cubes-3pc-Set/dp/B004C0XZM4

2. For the phone addict
We all have the person in our family who just won't put down their phone--even if they have to take off their gloves in freezing weather to use it! These ELMA Touchscreen Gloves let you use your touchscreen phone without getting cold fingers.

http://www.amazon.com/ELMA-Knitted-Mittens-Texting-Touchscreen/dp/B0159XUVNS

3. For the beer lover
This gift from The Grommet is perfect for the local beer lover who likes to try new brews. They can collect bottle caps for their state until they fill their Beer Cap Trap map. Does your favorite beer lover like to try beer from all over the country? Look for the U.S.-shaped map on the same site!

https://www.thegrommet.com/beer-cap-trap-choose-your-state-beer-cap-map

4. For the cat person
If you have more than two cats, you are automatically judged by the world. This Crazy Cat Lady Game from Archie McPhee will make your favorite cat-person laugh and also give you a new game to try this holiday season.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J7AIAU

5. For the person with a messy car
Some people's cars are spotless and some people just can't help but use the backseat as a trashcan. This Car Seat Organizer is currently over 70% off and offers the perfect way to use one of your seats as a personal organizer.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WNGV2Y2

6. For the person on-the-go
This GRID-IT! organizer from Cocoon lets someone keep straight all of their devices, cords, gum, chapstick, and anything else that typically clutters a purse or briefcase. For anyone in your life that is always on the move, this gift can help them stay a little more organized along the way.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00479FQCM

7. For the one with a new apartment
If you only have one knife, this is the one to have. It covers all basic knife needs and is currently 60% off! I recently bought this for my niece who is in college and living on her own for the first time. Probably not a great gift for your family chef since they more likely want specialized knives, but good for someone who is just starting out on their own or wants to start cooking more.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011CUNWR4

8. For the board game lover
Skull King is my family's new favorite game. Almost guaranteed to be a surprise, yet I can promise you that it's entertaining and well made. A little bit of strategy and a lot of fun, the game's characters are based on the game maker's family members.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CK1EJG8

9. For the jetsetter
For the person on your list who is always traveling, this Trtl travel pillow from The Grommet is the perfect gift. They were sold out just days ago and current orders will not ship until December 10th--so now is the time to order.

https://www.thegrommet.com/trtl-neck-support-travel-pillow#

10. For the outdoorsy one
For someone adventurer or athlete, this convenient little gift could be a game changer. Runners, campers, hikers, they all need a good towel. Depending which size you choose, these are currently as much as 60% on sale.

http://www.amazon.com/Fox-Outfitters-MicroDry-Towel-Lightweight/dp/B00TQAWYFE

7 Things You Should Know about Depression

If you’ve encountered clinical depression—either directly or through a loved one—you know how devastating it can be to a person and to everyone around them. You know how hopeless it can feel to try to help a person who is depressed—to know what to say, what to do, when to push and when to hold back, when to show tough love, and when to just be there. 

I have been clinically depressed three times. I’ve also watched more than one person that I love go through the same—watched the people closest to me experience what I would not wish on my worst enemy. To that end, I want to share these seven things I think everyone should know about depression, from the perspective of someone who has been there.

We will hurt you without realizing it. To us, you are invincible. You’re in the land of the living where people laugh and mean it, get out of bed without valiant effort, and understand that it’s possible to be loved. You’re on the other side and we can’t fathom that we have the power to hurt you. We are powerless.

We spend exorbitant amounts of energy trying to act “normal” so we don’t make those around us uncomfortable. Everything in our being is telling us to stay home and avoid the world. Interacting with others makes us tired. Be understanding when we don’t want to participate in social activities.

We will push you away when we need you the most. Human interaction and personal relationships are the antithesis to depression. Visit us even when we try to push you away. Being present in our lives and reminding us that we are not alone is invaluable.

Nothing you can say will help, so just be there. We need you to listen without trying to fix things, to remind us that you aren’t going anywhere, to let us know that it’s okay that we’re depressed and that you don’t expect us to pretend that everything is okay. When you remain present in our lives, we are reassured that you are still in our corner.

When it comes to therapy or medication, telling us what to do or wanting us to operate on a specific timeline is not helpful. We are doing our best. Both of these paths require hard work and time, and whether we try either one is a personal choice. Support our decisions.

You shouldn’t feel obligated to take care of a depressed person. Do it only because you want to and feel up to it and believe you are close enough to be right for the job. It’s okay to choose your own sanity and wellbeing—either some of the time when you need a break, or all of the time if you choose not to become a part of the person’s support network.

Helping a depressed friend should not mean that you have to sacrifice your own wellbeing or give up your own plans and activities. You do not have to respond to every cry for help as if the apocalypse is coming. It’s okay to respond to a dramatic text by saying, “I’m in the middle of something, can I call you tomorrow?” or “I love you and I want to help, but I’m actually dealing with a personal problem myself right now”. If you get run down by being too available and involved, you won’t have energy left to be a good friend.


I've written a book that goes a bit further into each of these ideas—but it's still short and concise, just like this blog post. If you're interested to read more, please consider buying my book.

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