Expert in the Rough, Brian Monahan

Besides my addiction to notebooks and notepads, I have an addiction for Google Tools.  One of my favorite Google Tools is Google Docs.  Google Docs is a free web based word processor.  It has most of the features of Microsoft Word and has a few other benefits Word cannot offer.  Those benefits include online collaboration, sharing and search capabilities to name a few.

If you are addicted to ideas like me but have a hard time taking your ideas from inspiration to blog post then Google Docs might be the tool for you.

First you are going to need to sign up for a Google Account.  If you don’t have one you are missing out.  I currently use over 19 Google Products regularly and Google Docs is one of my favorites.

Google products are all about saving time, collaboration and most importantly search capabalities.

One of the first things you will notice is the ease of use.  I don’t even give my documents titles.  I simply type my idea on the first line and that will be its title.  Of course you can choose a title if you like but I like the speed of this technique.

I use Google Docs 4 ways.

1. Compiler of my journals.  I will type in my hand written ideas periodically for easy access when searching for new post ideas.
2. Primer tool.  Often times I will simply type one sentence as a primer idea for a later date.
3. Working area for blog posts.  I take the primers and flesh them out before posting.
4. Search tool.  You can search your Google Docs just like searching the web.  It’s a great way to see trends in your ideas or writing.

In a kind of Pavlovian way Google Docs actually spurs my creativity since I have established it as the home of my inspirations.

Give it a try, it’s free.

Béla Károlyi is not only a fabulous gymnastic coach, he is also a great example of how to manage your “Expert” opinion.

Pete Blackshaw recently posted about how Béla Károlyi had nearly surpassed Bob Costas with media and blog mentions.  Now this may not seem significant but Costas easily has 10 times the exposure as Károlyi during the Olympics but people are interested in Károlyi.

Of course Béla Károlyi is a loved gymnastics hero and has trained the best of the best but I believe there is one reason and one reason alone for his popularity right now.  He is willing to speak his mind and be politically incorrect.  During this years Olympics there has been numerous gymnastic events where the Chinese competitors have won gold medals with questionable judging.

Many commentators are willing to allude to such scenarious but Béla Károlyi has been adamant and clear in his convictions.  He does not sugar coat his opinion he says it like it is.  His remarks about the Chinese being “half-people,” are a bit off color, but you must he adds some spice to an Olympics that otherwise feels over commercialized and hyped.

I suggest when it comes to your blog or your opinion you do as Béla Károlyi does and say it like it is.

No need for sugar coating in this world.  The internet and media is crowded.  Those who speak, write and communicate with conviction will stand out.

Don’t be a “Half-Blogger.”

Scott Ginsberg, The Name Tag Guy wrote today about the frequent question he gets, “Should I Blog?.”

He has a list of 15 compelling reason’s why you should blog.  Good thing there is a guy like Scott out there.  Because I am sure you have a list of 15 “compelling” excuses why not to blog.

So here is #16 for Scott:

Blog because people need your reasons to be great and if you don’t blog they will be left with just excuses.

Do you want to be apart of the Reasons or the Excuses?