Why You Should Blog... and how Meg will present a presentation she wishes not to present but if for the oodles of business presenting garnishes

Don't get me wrong -- I like it when you read my blog too... but what I would like you to know is that there is significent value in writing a business blog instead of just reading them.

On Thursday, I am giving a 10-minute presentation on business blogging at my BNI chapter in Ballantyne (Charlotte, NC). Each week we meet and another member tells the group a little about what they do. This time, I am speaking specifically on blogging and why it is valuable for businesses. Here is a little preview:

BNI Presentation June 11, 2009

First I will talk about me -- and dazzle the audience with a few quick facts like the fact that I have a Bachelor's Degree in Theatrical Production Arts... and some of these other bullets:

· Toured once w/ Pop Cover Band: Nik and the Nice Guys
· Have held positions as a Master Carpenter, Statistical Analyst, Sales person for a sporting goods store, professional artist, event planner and fundraiser.
· Relocated to the Carolinas 2 years ago
· Wrote a book about business networking for Introverts
· In 2001 began work at a software company where I wrote proposals, white papers, requirements documents, and website content, business & marketing plans – sparking my love of business writing, then became VP of Marketing Web & SEO firm where I did sales
· I began writing more instructional (how-to) articles on SEO and web
· Wrote for the local Business Journal and Daily Newspaper Blog on community, networking and technology, did radio & TV as tech expert
· Gained recognition for my “Geek Speak” (translating nerd-talk into understandable terms for the less tech-savvy) Articles published in a local business magazine
· Currently I write e-newsletters, manage websites, do search engine consulting, copywriting and powerpoint presentations in addition to business blogging.

...all of which I am sure will get tons of "oos and ahs..." as clearly I am very interesting and have experienced a diverse set of experiences which make me uniquely qualified to blog...

Then I will dive right into the beauty of business Blogs... and will probably read the following paragraph, feel awkward about reading it and then try to make it sound like I am being extemporaneous and fail miserably. At which point I will make a self-deprecating remark and laughter will ensue.

...here is that paragraph:

Thanks to the internet and free (or inexpensive blogging tools), any individual business owner or small company can have the same technological impact as the Charlotte Observer or the New York Times, CNN or Oprah. Through your blog you can become known as an expert in your field, and become sought after as a vendor, speaker, partner and resource. Having a blog is the strongest and best platform for sharing your ideas, best practices and expertise with the world.

"Whoa... Awesome" I will say, tying to pep up the crowd I am starting to lose... and then quickly and ungracefully, as I stumble around the ill-placed tables I will hand out 10 index cards--well 11 actually as the first one will be labeled:

"Reasons you need to blog"

Then I will ask 10 lucky people to read these cleverly worded, and fantastic reasons to blog. Some of which were parceled from other sites and re-worded slightly, something I hope will be considered more a complement to the original authors, than seen as plageristic - for that is never my intent... oh yes... back to the reading of the cards:

1. Blogging demonstrates your true commitment and passion for your industry—and you really have to show your commitment over the long-haul. Most people won’t be able to maintain a business blog over long periods of time, but those who do so are rewarded in recognition and credibility. Posting often and consistency is the key!

2. More than 147 million Americans use the Internet

3. Increase your reach beyond your company, town, and industry with a blog since it can be read from multiple places through syndication. Links and email blasts.

4. Your work should be working for you, building your reputation—not just a bullet point on a resume. (A blog is proof of your brilliance and expertise!)

5. Even your old blog entries are valuable and will be read years later—your work will live on and bring you new business for years to come.

6. A blog can increase your website traffic with links in and traffic driven your site will gain ranking and popularity with the search engines. Even if no one ever reads it!

7. You can influence your industry by being a thought-leader and demonstrating positive, actionable ways to make change all while carving out a name for yourself.

8. A blog can help build your personal network, and enable incredible connections with the world around you, (something not possible prior to wide-spread use of the Internet)

9. Your job is changing, and you might want to be involved in the process of what your new job will include—at your current company, or beyond. What do you want to be?

10. Over time, your blog will contain an increasingly rich and relevant wealth of information that will be a Google magnet. Thus, you will become more and more available to the customers you need to attract.

Then I will add in a couple witty and well written reasons that Blogs are great. I will also read these, but I will notice my time is getting short so I will paraphrase, smartly pointing the audience to this blog for the actual original paragraphs:

1 You can be a ROCK STAR by providing an unlimited amount of vital information in a single location. Because Web visitors are desperately seeking answers to their most pressing questions, you have the opportunity to provide just the right answers for your ideal target customers.

2 Blogs enable you to organize your information almost effortlessly to the benefit of your visitors by putting them into ‘categories.’

3 Unlike other social media tools, such as Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn, your blog is open to the entire world.

4 You can request visitors to register and offer them enticements such as a free e-book or eNewsletter – growing your prospect list while offering them beneficial information, (and positioning yourself as a subject-matter expert).

Then quickly I will point out the reasons to hire a Business Blogger... of course indicating that I would be an awesome choice for this...

Keeping up on writing your blogs and making sure that they are linked properly is a lot of work—often sometimes the internal marketing staff or small business owner is unable to do this while focusing on what they do best… run their business.

I provide a low-cost way to maintain a blog by:

· Creating all new content and posting regularly
· By supplementing your entries with keyword-rich and relevant posts
· By editing what you have written or modifying found articles in you voice.

Business Blogging has is a powerful tool for increasing traffic to a corporate site, informing the public, connecting with customers and sharing information in a casual and informative way. By utilizing a business blog writer, you can capture a pool or prospecting clients and fans, all while focusing on what you do best: Your Business.

Bow, smile, exit stage left.

Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

Book Signing Scheduled: July 18th

NEWS:


On Saturday, July 18th, 12-3 Meghan Wier will be doing a book signing of Confessions of an Introvert at Books-A-Million in Charlotte.

Books-A-Million #236
14151 Steele Creek Road
Charlotte, NC 28273





Stop by Books-A-Million on Saturday the 18th to get your copy of Confessions signed by Meghan Wier, or buy your copy on Amazon today!






Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

Once again... Sleep is Overrated

There was a time, in my own recent history, where I struggled with insomnia. The insomnia was so bad, I considered myself fortunate to get 4 hours of sleep every other day. This was an invigorating time, perhaps due to the mania the lack of sleep manifested, however, in that moment I found inspiration and brilliance and beauty. I saw the world in a new way, embraced the quiet and stillness and felt that the hours had been created by a higher power for my own bidding. It was, in short, a happy time in an unhappy time.

I have often secretly longed for that gift during that last 2 years of relative normal slumber. I was, at least I believed myself to be, profoundly productive during this time. I cared for an infant, I ran a business, I wrote a book... It was a mediocre book perhaps, but that was clearly due to my skill as a writer instead of lack of creative inspiration and a compelling subject matter.

To my point... I have recently experienced a similar level or sleeplessness - in part due to the expected arrival of our new family member, (and the other family members, although I have less control over that than I do my own, and believe me that is not much). In that sleeplessness, I have found I have somehow lost my ability to be productive during the waning night hours. It is a sad loss, a mourned loss. Age, distraction, hormone imbalance.... the cause of said un-productivity is unclear, but all the same true. As such, I am restricted to listening to my internal jukebox, stuck on an unfortunate, albeit delightful little tune: "Zachary hated Bumblebees..." from an apparent overly used children's CD currently in the car's disc drive. (Note to self: remove CD from disc changer).

I have hopes that either the lack of sleep situation is soon resolved (unlikely) or I can regain the mid-night productivity of yesteryear. Even if it was only perceived productivity, at least it came with some sense or brilliance and accomplishment to balance the droopy eyelids and kink in my back.



Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

March Update

I have been working hard, albeit admittedly sporadically in the recent weeks to get blogs written and search engine optimization done. I have a full list of amazing clients and I am trying to keep them all well positioned on the Search Engines while balancing the launch of Confessions of an Introvert, and dealing with the regular life responsibilities of home and family - a family that will be expanding in a month or so with the birth of our second son.

Under the "exciting news" category: Metro GreenScape will be starting my "extreme landscape makeover" this week. I will have to take some before and after pictures, but I am looking forward to having that done (although we are doing it in a couple stages and may take several months to complete). When complete I will have, hands-down the best looking lot on the street.

The good news there is that my in-laws will be visiting at the end of the month and the front yard will be looking pretty snazzy by then -- something sure to score me a couple points, and for which I will take full credit, despite the fact that there is no way I could actually do any of the work myself. And that, my friends, is "outsourcing" at its best. There is outsourcing to be more efficient, and look better at work - and then there is the outsourcing that makes you seem like super-woman to the in-laws.... I believe whole-heartedly in both!

Along the same lines I will have to get some shopping done this week so that I will have food in the house for the aforementioned in-laws. They think I can cook, and I don't want to give them any impression that they are mistaken! (Note to self: write out recipes, pre-package food and cook & freeze like it is going out of style this week.... who needs sleep!)

This will be a busy week, although they all are at this point. My "new-normal" includes writing for medical folks, and real estate folks, financial people and home-services companies. Business blogging may just be recession proof, and for that I am grateful.

For all the people following, and the ones who have casually dropped by, please forgive me if I have been negligent in returning calls or emails, remembering birthdays, or playdates. A gentle reminder would be good if I have been out-of-touch. I would make excuses, but that would set false expectations that this state is only temporary, and I have come to peace with the fact that the days of lounging around the "office" for hours and being so inspired that the letters wear off the keyboard may be a thing of the past. Work is work, family is family, and life is life... all of which I happily have plenty of.

Visit me on facebook - where I may, occassionally, be responsive to requests, upload a picture now and then, and provide snarky comments on your status.

- Meg



Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

Social Media and the Introvert

I have been batting around the idea of writing about Introverts and Social Networking for a while now. And when I was ready to get writing, I posted a note on Facebook to ask for feedback. Of course immediately both of my parents (no doubt from separate rooms in the same house) commented back.

And that is where the beauty and irony of social networking get complicated. Two people in the same space communicating with a third person miles away almost instantaneously.

As an introvert, I like the idea of being able to connect with people on my own terms- to set up boundaries and avenues to communicate, to have immediate gratification and human interaction without the messiness of actual human interaction.

So does social networking bring us closer together, or further apart? The answer to that is likely in how you use it. Just as email was seen as a miraculous new tool for communication and at the same time, the cause for the degradation of our language skills. New media is untested, un-studied, un-understood. And yet utilized at uber-light-speed and spit out on a whim when it no longer meets our needs, or if a "new" fad comes along. It will be interesting to see where this social networking trend takes us, and if in the end the power is ultimately harnessed positively...

- meg


Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

Self-Promotion: How to Make the Most in a Down Economy

The idea--or the practice of self-promotion has never come easily to me. Mostly it is idea of it that is the hard part. Doing it is more a job, and I am try to be good at "doing my job."

This got me thinking about other people in similar situations who need to self-promote to gain the success they are seeking. It is not always comfortable to talk about yourself. And we all know people who do--and do it a little too much, making it distasteful. Yet if you are in the process of looking for a job, or trying to get a promotion, or selling a service--you have to be able to promote you.

Here are some strategies for self-promotion:

1) Use online social networking to your advantage - Blogger, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are all great ways to share with your contacts what you are up to. Stay active - keep things professional, but casual.

2) Network - Make a point of attending one networking event or meeting each week. This could be a one-on-one meeting with a contact or a bigger organized meeting. If it helps, block of a particular time each week that is dedicated just to networking.

3) Practice, practice, practice - The more you are able to speak comfortably and intelligently about yourself and what you do, the easier it will become.

4) Know what you want to say - What are the important points you would like to share with someone once you meet them? What makes you different from another candidate for a job? Why are you unique or better or more interesting?

5) Think of promoting yourself as your job - Sometimes looking at self-promotion as a "duty" will get you to just do it. It is after all something that has to be done. So go for it.


Self-promotion is not something to be shameful of -- You are worth the recognition! You can show modesty and humility while making others aware of your greatness.


Do you have any self-promotion tips? Feel free to share them here.
-Meghan Wier


Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

Fabulous February

February starts on Sunday with much anticipated football game in the Wier house. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the team of choice and whilst I am neither adamant fan nor foe, I do wish, for the sake of the men in house, that they do not fail in their pursuit of yet another Super Bowl ring.

SO that is day 1 of February. The rest of the month is looking just as exciting, (at least for me, perhaps not for the Steelers). Confessions of an Introvert becomes officially available (although it technically hit the online stores this past week) and I am scheduled to do at least one radio interview related to that. If I get over my shyness and anxiety, at least momentarily, I will walk myself into a couple of bookstores and see if I can schedule a signing or two--which could be fun, or it could be mortifying...but good for the book nonetheless...hopefully.

The end of February will see me getting ready to go for a quick visit to Colorado to celebrate my sister's pending new addition. This will be quite an experience, as my own pending new addition is due mid-late April, and I am already feeling quite aware of the obvious timeline of the Spring months. ---that wasn't meant to be as cryptic as that came out...let me try again: I am pregnant and by the end of the month I will be enormous and crabby.

I have plenty of work-projects to fill the time in between the big events this month. Business blogging and copywriting are becoming very important to many small businesses as the economy staggers. While I am not complaining about having the extra work, it would be nice if the economy would stop staggering... But while I ride it out, I have plenty of writing to do--on subjects big and small: Charlotte Web Design, to Mint Hill Real Estate, Sports Marketing to Weight Loss... etc. Life is good, and I get to write. I can't ask for more.

(see how I stuck those targeted links in there... clever huh!)

I have to conclude this post, as Facebook and my Amazon ranking are beckoning me. Darn the Internet.

-Meg
www.meghanwier.com



Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

Not for Everyone - the author licks her wounds after bad review

As a person (an introverted person you'll remember) who has decided to put herself in the "public eye" (so to speak), by publishing a book, and doing so with a book so personal... I should have been a little more prepared for the news today:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6631979.html?nid=3336

If you scroll down a bit you will find a scathing review of Confessions of an Introvert. Now, practically speaking, a scathing review is not unexpected. Many if not most books are not loved by all. There are so many books. There are a lot of BAD books that are best sellers, a lot of great books that are never read. I am lucky that mine, good, bad or mediocre has been able to be brought to the public, and been helpful -- or at least mildly entertaining -- to some.

...My book, as the review says is ...

"[suggestions] ... bland, obvious, often irrelevant and sometimes plain juvenile"

OUCH.

I guess my theory is that the best advice is often the most obvious - the most "juvenile". But I know for a fact that the advice I give IS relevant to some - a niche demographic that this reviewer certainly did not fall into--but all the same, some people do need to be told these things, some people do need to read this book...

In all honesty, I was initially a bit hurt by this criticism. However, throughout my life, I have been criticized many times. I am sure you have as well -- that is life. Strength comes from being able to objectively look at this as more "constructive" than hurtful.

Confessions is not for everyone, and potential readers should know that not all advice, anecdotes and funny stories in the book will touch everyone. If you choose to read the book, please take from it that which you find useful, and absolutely give me your feedback. If you like the book, let me know, if you don't let me know why. I can grow from each new experience, and this too is a learning opportunity for me--and an opportunity to be a better writer in the future.

...and my advice to the reviewer, if they would be so kind as to take it constructively... if you are going to write about an author, always confirm the spelling of their name first...

thank you.

Meghan Wier


Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

The Books Have Arrived!

I arrived home this evening after a very long day of traveling to find a nice present on my doorstep... The copies of Confessions of an Introvert!

I have plenty to do this week, much writing and regular home stuff... but I will be working on setting up some signings and interviews as well.

It is very exciting to be able to share this wonderful news with you, and I hope that you get your copies soon as well!

Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all.

This is a long overdue "hello" to all. This year has been a great one, filled with lots of visits from friends, traveling and family. I am fortunate to be able to say that 2008 was great for me professionally as well, as I continued to grow my corporate blogging business.

The picture featuring my new pedicure is from this past week in Aruba. An absolutely wonderful vacation in a beautiful place. It was a great way to end the year.

I am looking forward to February when my book finally comes out. You can still get in on a good deal and pre-order Confessions of an Introvert from Amazon. As far as I know the release date is firm. I will keep you posted if I hear differently.

ORDER IT NOW... (subliminal message)

Other exciting news is the announcement of new client Metro GreenScape. An innovative landscape company in Charlotte that creates "outdoor living" spaces. If you want to check them out, go to their website today.

They made up a landscape design for my own property - which I think is a top-notch idea. They came out and looked at my yard and worked out a custom design with my requirements in mind (low maintenance, perennials, drought resistance), and put together a great look. Over the next couple months they will be installing the plants, shrubs, trees, flowers, etc. etc. I am so excited. But best of all, with the design, I know exactly what the yard will look like and have a guide book of where everything is and how to care for it. It is this kind of "above and beyond" that makes Metro GreenScape the premier landscape company in Charlotte. I will keep my own project updates posted here--but feel free to ask about it. I can't tell you how giddy I am about this design landscape project. And I invite you to come see my new outdoor living space.

Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

Holiday Update

Hello Folks!

This is a long overdue "hello" to all who follow my blog, or who, as may be your case, stumble across it (it that proper English? Anyone...?)

Misc. news to report includes:

--> Many new wonderful clients who I will feature here in the months to come.

--> A new addition to our family will be arriving sometime in April... in case you hadn't caught that one yet. I am currently enjoying the "all-you-can-eat" version of a Merry Christmas.

--> Confessions of an Introvert is slated to be released in February. If you have already read a copy - you can review it on Amazon or on the Source books site. Remember that reviews can only help my overall success--and the time you take on them may very well buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks--not that I am paying for reviews of anything like that... that wouldn't be cool... just that I appreciate your honest feedback, and I really like Starbucks.

--> I will be traveling over the Christmas holiday, so if you are looking for me--try facebook or email. No promises on a fast reply, but I will be checking in every so often.

That is all for my brief update, but I did want to say Happy Holidays. Thank you to all who have supported me in the past year. Thank you to my clients, family, friends, readers, web/blog/facebook visitors. Thank you and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 2009 is going to be an amazing year, and I am so glad I get to share it with you!

Meghan Wier

Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

The Black Hole

There is a black hole in my computer. Or maybe it is a time-warp. Or... a black hole that causes time warps? dunno. All I am sure of is that I sat down with my laptop about three hours ago and have yet to log any hours on my client time sheet.

That isn't to say that I haven't been writing -- even blogging. Done both. Just nothing billable, and frankly, I have spent a crazy amount of time just surfing. The Internet is an evil evil thing.

I did add my profile to the Ballantyne BNI website though -- that is cool...ish (not 3 hours cool, but still good). Check it out.


Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

If I wait to come out of the fog...

If I wait to come out of the fog, it just might not happen. Much blogging and organizing has taken place over the last few days, unfortunately, it is hard to tell from the outside looking in and none of it was done here and for my own personal gain. However, as the aforementioned was billable, I can't complain.

I had a lovely meeting today with the ever-outstanding and dashing gentleman, Rich Ferretti. I am a blogging maniac when it comes to real estate in Charlotte, and this is all Rich's fault. He may just be the only busy realtor out there right now, but he is doing something right, and keeping me busy to boot (see Rich's latest blog). He is such an incredible and wise man -- and I look forward to his take on the importance of attendance at BNI tomorrow.... and you better believe I don't dare miss that one :)

Company in this week, followed by a birthday party, Thanksgiving, a trip to Denver, Christmas and a trip to Florida. After that I actually think Mexico is on the agenda, although formal plans have yet to be made. Luckily business blogging is a go-anywhere kind of business and so I continue to blog, blog, blog (could they not have thought of a more elegant name for this?)

There will be more later although I can't guarantee if that means in the short term or not. I have neglected this personal blog as a time management necessity to write the rest. (See "billable" above), but will endeavour to update as a matter of course.

until later...


Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

Auer Agency

PRESS RELEASE
October 18, 2008

Meghan Wier, Writing for the Web is pleased to announce an new media partnership with Auer Agency, Sports Marketing and Design located in Charlotte, NC.

Auer Agency delivers graphic design, marketing / advertising solutions and custom apparel design services. Primarily a sports marketing company, the Auer Agency can do everything from designing a jersey for your cycling team, a brochure promoting your sporting event or a logo for a new product or service, Auer Agency can help you realize the possibilities.


Meghan Wier
Author -- Writer -- Web Consultant

News

A couple quick notes -- in an effort to make Confessions of an Introvert an absolutely FABULOUS book, the publisher has made the decision to move the release date back to Feb 2009. (Polishing and perfection take time people...)

I am admittedly disappointed that the release date won't be until next year... but I also understand. And hopefully the extra time will make the book a huge success.

Also on the subject of books: Wendy Gelberg has just published her book: The Successful Introvert, and despite not being able to get my book out before the x-mas holiday... Wendy was generous enough to consider me successful enough to quote throughout. Congrats to Wendy and I hope that you all get the chance to buy Wendy's book. It will make a great stocking stuffer!

-Meg

Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

New Website!

I am very excited to announce the launch of my newly designed and super snazzy website. This piece of art and technology married together in perfect harmony is credited to the genius of Fred Sexton of Charlotte Web Design company Mouse and Man.... shear genius I tell you.

Please check out meghanwier.com and send me your feedback. - Meg

Meghan Wier
Author -- Writer -- Web Consultant

Cycles: Staying busy, Catching up

It seems I always write about catching up, or being busy. It seems I am on that pattern: catch up, then get so busy I get behind, then catch up again. I suppose it is not a bad place to be. "Busy" indicates there is stuff to do. "Catching up" indicates being busy with things to do. I am sure that there was a time which I was bored, but I can't remember when that was. I can't remember a lot of things since I have been so busy.

I have a short list of accomplishments for the week. I got the car cleaned. I spent time with family, nuclear and extended. I wrote for several clients if not for myself. I booked a flight to Boulder in December where I were certainly not be able to catch up on any work, but I will most definitely be busy.

It seems that it is becoming necessary to admit that I am expecting. Expecting and expecting to be busy. I have become increasing busy with consuming food and as I write this I am eating my 10pm yogurt and big old bowl of fried potato snack. As you can guess this is what is making it necessary to point out that which is becoming obvious by my ballooning bump. On the up side the motherhood-induced insomnia was very lucrative last time in the form of increased productivity, (decreased quality of work, but increased amount of work accomplished...) <>

Speaking of which...

I am looking forward to my upcoming book launch - currently scheduled for December 1. I am anxious and eager to see this happen.

I have had the pleasure of working with the very talented Camine Pappas who owns C and Company - a business devoted to marketing home builders. I have been reading her blog and am most impressed. If only all the builders around the world listened to her, the world would be a better place -- and we would all live in awesome homes with meditation rooms and natural sunlight.

It seems that it is time to turn in for the evening. I have updated my Facebook about 10 times today and uploaded my contact database to Plaxo. I am getting caught up and procrastinating at the same time and since I am no longer staying busy with billable work -- I best get caught up with my sleep.



Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

The Rule of Threes

(Content borrowed from the useful, if not always entirely accurate Wikipedia)

The rule of three is a principle in English writing that suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, (Should be!!) more satisfying, (definitely!) or more effective than other numbers of things...There were three musketeers, three little pigs, three billy goats Gruff, Goldilocks and the three bears, and Three Stooges.

A series of three is often used to create a progression in which the tension (I see a lot of that!) is created, then built up, and finally released.

Should be an awesome family vacation next summer as our family grows and grows and grows!

• Three is the first odd prime number and the second smallest prime.
• Three is both the first Fermat prime (22n + 1) and the first Mersenne prime (22 − 1), as well as the first lucky prime.
• Three is the second Sophie Germain prime, the second Mersenne prime exponent, the second factorial prime (2! + 1), the second Lucas prime, the second Stern prime.
• Three is the first unique prime due to the properties of its reciprocal.
• Three is the aliquot sum of one number, the square number 4 and is the base of the 3-aliquot tree.
• Three is the third Heegner number.
• Three is the second triangular number and it is the only prime triangular number.
• Three is the only prime which is one less than a perfect square. Any other number which is n2 − 1 for some integer n is not prime, since it is (n − 1)(n + 1). This is true for 3 as well, but in its case one of the factors is 1.
• Three non-collinear points determine a plane and a circle.
• Three is the fourth Fibonacci number and the third that is unique.
• In the Perrin sequence, 3 is both the zeroth and third Perrin numbers.
• Three is the fourth open meandric number.
• Vulgar fractions with 3 in the denominator have a single digit repeating sequences in their decimal expansions, (.000..., .333..., .666...)
• A natural number is divisible by three if the sum of its digits in base 10 is divisible by 3. For example, the number 21 is divisible by three (3 times 7) and the sum of its digits is 2 + 1 = 3. Because of this, the reverse of any number that is divisible by three (or indeed, any permutation of its digits) is also divisible by three. For instance, 1368 and its reverse 8631 are both divisible by three (and so are 1386, 3168, 3186, 3618, etc..).
• A triangle is the most durable shape possible, the only "perfect" figure which if all endpoints have hinges will never change its shape unless the sides themselves are bent.
• 3 is the only integer between e and π.
• Three of the five regular polyhedra have triangular faces — the tetrahedron, the octahedron, and the icosahedron.
• Three of the five regular polyhedra have vertices where three faces meet — the tetrahedron, the hexahedron (cube), and the dodecahedron.
• Three different types of polygons comprise the faces of the five regular polyhedra — the triangle, the quadrilateral, and the pentagon.
• There are only three distinct 4×4 panmagic squares.
• Only three tetrahedral numbers are also perfect squares.

THREE.

Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

The Wells Fargo Wagon is a Coming Now...(?)

Stupid stupid musical theatre classes. I can't get this one out of my head. If you are living here in Charlotte this week... you know what I am talking about. If not... no worries, you need not stress about it--just enjoy the catchy tune and the interesting interpretation by what is clearly a bunch of theatre and film students with too much time on their hands.

Back to the point:

Is our money safe?

Will my friends have jobs?

Will the economy ever recover?

Here in Charlotte, we have been fairly insulated from the ups and downs of the housing market fall-out. That was until the mortgage crisis started closing banks. Charlotte has a disproportional number of people employed by banks. And while that has been good until now, I think that the next few months will be interesting. Feels a little like when Kodak started letting people go in Rochester.

All the more reason to be a professional blogger!

I have been working with Charlotte Smith on launching her new blog about dealing with weight and weight loss issues. Needless to say I am considering what I eat more and more these days. Charlotte is a life coach with a practical approach to helping people deal with emotional eating and life-long weight problems. She is, no doubt, a genius in her ability to get people to fully understand their food addictions and build healthy relationships with food.

Just the thought of that makes me crave potato chips and that yummy bacon dip sitting in my fridge. ---Lucky for me Charlotte would have no issue with that. She would just say "are you hungry?" and ask how I feel after eating that delicious snack. Of course I will probably feel bloated and icky and then just thinking about all that will be enough for me to make a nice salad for dinner instead. Bummer. Being a professional blogger has its pros: i.e. not being significantly affected by bank buy-outs and take-overs, and its cons: obsessing over radon mitigation, tooth enamel and wondering if I am really "hungry."

Other than that it was a absolutely BEAUTIFUL day in Charlotte with temps in the 80's and the sun filling the enormous Carolina sky. Can't beat that for October. Life is good.

(glad all my money in the stock market was gone during the last big drop.... none to lose, none to lose.)

-Meg
Working Working Working
www.meghanwier.com


Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant

...Come again another day

It seems I am suffering from poor planning. I stayed up late, got the bicycle down from the garage storage, pumped up the tires, carefully put the bike in the car, and collected the accouterment necessary for taking a nice ride.

The plan, such that it was, was to take my kid to school, park the car and then bicycle to my meetings this morning. It seemed reasonable: get exercise, save gas.

And yet mother nature had different plans. While I was more than willing to ride in the light sprinkle that greeted me as I pulled the car from the driveway this morning, I am rather adverse, and hardly dressed from cycling in a torrential downpour.

..and so the bike sits. As do I, in the car. Fortunately, my handy dandy laptop is here, and I have plenty of writing to do this morning, however, it seems that I will have to buy gasoline and go to the gym today… two things that I had not planned upon, but seem, rather necessary.

Things to report include a full schedule for the week, a new website nearly launched, a naughty dog, a kid who grew two inches over the weekend, a fortunate forgiveness of the bank for a minor miscalculation, a ridiculous price for gas, an abysmal stock market, and a rainy day.

Cheers.
m

Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant