http://sachachua.com/wp I help organizations and people learn how to connect and collaborate more effectively using Web 2.0 tools. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:09:48 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The typical first frost date in Toronto is October 6, which is 93 days away. If we allow two weeks for safety, that gives us 79 days of growing, minus whatever time you need to germinate.My garden is full. Full full full full. I shouldn't plant any more into it, ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/07/05/from-here-to-first-frost/ The cats very obligingly sat for a portrait session:From CatsFrom CatsNo treats needed! http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/07/05/cat-portrait-session/ I love strawberries. They're not that easy to get in the Philippines, where I'm from. Strawberries are grown in Baguio and are occasionally available during the cool months. Strawberries are also imported from Australia and other countries, but they're expensive.So I'm thrilled that I can grow strawberries here in Toronto. ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/07/04/more-strawberries/ Even my leisure ties into my long-term goals. One of the reasons why I'm interested in learning more about sewing and gardening is that these are hobbies that I can pursue throughout life. In fact, they're stereotypical elderly pursuits, like golf is. These are hobbies that people can enjoy for decades, ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/07/04/hobbies-for-life/ Now that I've shifted to wearing my consulting hat, I'll be giving more presentations and facilitating more workshop sessions on Web 2.0, collaboration, Generation Y, and other topics. I have a couple of sessions to prepare and deliver over the next two weeks. I thought I'd take some time to ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/07/03/reflecting-on-how-to-prepare-for-workshops/ "How are you?" asked a client after the Canada Day holiday."Fantastic!" I replied.She was surprised by that. Perhaps she expected me to say that the holiday was too short, or to wish that the weekend were here. So I told her about how I filled my holiday to the brim ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/07/02/the-fullness-of-days/ I spent Canada Day indulging in hobbies that benefit from concentrated time. It was terrific!I started the day by sewing a pajama set from the adorable penguin flannel I picked up last week. I modified Simplicity 3548 to make shorts instead of pants, and I tried to copy one of ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/07/01/hobby-day-holiday/ 20090701 http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/07/01/recent-photos/ If you're new to social media and Web 2.0, you probably feel overwhelmed by all the different tools that are out there. Should you use Twitter? Get on Facebook? Start a blog? Share photos? Share videos? It seems that as soon as you've worked up the courage to try something ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/07/01/combining-multiple-social-media-services/ I usually spend the evening before a flight putting together a travel dossier. It includes:a map of the route from the airport to the hotela map of the route from the hotel to the meeting centerpublic transit routes for the airport to the hotelsome events and background informationThis is something ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/07/01/thinking-of-a-travel-dossier/ Business travel makes me anxious.When I book my flight and hotel, I wonder if I've chosen the right airport and the right flight, and if I can get to the hotel and to the venue easily. I wonder about the moments I'll miss, the stories I'll skip by being away. ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/06/30/making-business-travel-awesome/ I learned a lot from another three months doing Drupal. Here's a summary:I learned how to write low-level design documentation. I used to hate doing this because I was much happier prototyping things in order to figure things out, and writing in a word processor instead of a code editor ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/06/30/lessons-learned-from-this-phase-of-our-drupal-project-2/ I'll be changing hats at work. For the last year or so, my primary focus had been a Drupal-based project to help IBMers transition to new careers in nonprofit organizations, education, or the public sector. I learned lots of technical skills along the way, and became one of IBM's subject ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/06/29/changing-hats/ From last week's plans:Complete contact preferences feature and admin feature for forums (Drupal) Skipped Givetwo presentations at work (LinkedIn and Twitter, Totally RockingPresentations at IBM) and submit a third (I.B.Millennials: Working withand Learning from Gen Y)Sew a nylon bag for carrying lots of stuff I have my own tote! =)Host ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/06/29/weekly-review-week-ending-june-28-2009-2/ From last week's plans:Complete contact preferences feature and admin feature for forums (Drupal) Skipped Givetwo presentations at work (LinkedIn and Twitter, Totally RockingPresentations at IBM) and submit a third (I.B.Millennials: Working withand Learning from Gen Y)Sew a nylon bag for carrying lots of stuff I have my own tote! =)Host ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/06/29/weekly-review-week-ending-june-28-2009/ Today was a day for making things.I made myself a simple lined tote with adjustable straps and exterior pockets--deep blue twill lined with a polyester satin print of roses on a beige background. It's just a proof of concept, so I didn't finish all the edges neatly, but it's not ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/06/28/the-joys-of-making-things/ When one of my mentors asked me if I could do a session on presentation skills for the new interns who are coming in as part of IBM's Extreme Blue program, I said yes, of course. =) Great opportunity to give back and learn. Here are the key points I shared ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/06/24/notes-from-totally-rocking-presentations-at-ibm/ W- turned to J- and asked, "So, why don't you want to go to summer camp?""The first reason is that I want to spend my time more wisely," said the 11-year-old. I cheered."The second reason is that it's just like daycare. If I go to daycare during school and camp ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/06/22/cultivating-enthusiasm/ If you've ever wondered where the day went, or where the week went, or where the month or year went, slow down. Take notes. Keep a diary, a journal, a blog, or whatever other way you want to keep track of your accomplishments and celebrate the little things.Notes don't lock ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/06/22/log-your-accomplishments/ From last week's plansSocial Recruiting SummitTaking the Stage: The Power of VoiceDevelop Drupal system - Transition2 Got the forums to mostly workCoach clients on LinkedInPrepare presentations More work neededAttend sprouts class Skipped, decided to learn this on my own instead. $40 could buy a lot of seeds. =) Started mung ... http://sachachua.com/wp/2009/06/22/weekly-review-week-ending-june-21-2009/