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About This Author
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La Bene Vita
I am a professional musician  , worship leader , small business owner , songwriter , aspiring author and freelance nonfiction writer with a chemical engineering degree .
But that's just my resume.
My profile of qualifications is only one of the ways in which I am unique. Here I chronicle my personal and professional goals and my efforts to achieve them. Occasionally I fail. Mostly, I take daily baby steps toward all my long-term goals. Much like the stories I pen, the songs I compose, and the businesses I run, I am always a work in progress.
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Post at MichelleTuesday.com at least once per week.
 Pending. I actually want to post a new video, if I find the time to record one. Or two. Definitely two.
Grow MochaNotes.com blogs.
 Dabbling in Domesticity : Scheduled through tomorrow.
SEO: Alexa ranking for MT.com = 784k, MochaNotes.com = 783k. Giddyup, Nellie!
Launch one new performance repertoire song per week.
 Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
Pending. D'oh! It's June 30th. I think this goal needs to be pushed back until after my Grand Opening. Not on the radar.
Brand the biz(es.)
Goal met. I spent three hours at Chase opening up a new business checking account. I now accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, but not American Express cuz those dummies charge more. You can also set up your monthly tuition for automatic deductions.  I also talked to AT&T, a radio station, an architect, and my future office manager this morning.
Perform one household chore per day.
Goal met.
Read a book in print 15 minutes every day.
Goal met.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by 7/1/10.
Weight: ?
Meals:
7:30am Half a bagel with turkey and cheese (4), the other half with cream cheese (3)
TOTAL POINTS SO FAR: 7 (GOAL: 25) |
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So I've been waiting for months and months, and this weekend seemed like the hardest of it all. I finally came to agreement on my lease, which means (1) I know where I'm going to be, and (2) I know what it's going to cost. Now I'm just waiting to find out:
(1) When I'm going to get the keys! Oh Em Gee.
(2) How much my build-out will cost.
(3) When my build-out will be completed.
I should know all these things this week. I am so flippin' psyched.
Post at MichelleTuesday.com at least once per week.
Goal met.
Grow MochaNotes.com blogs.
Dabbling in Domesticity : Up to date.
SEO: Alexa rankings MT.com 839k, MochaNotes.com 832k. Still climbing. I used HubSpot tools ("graders") to grade my websites MichelleTuesday.com (Grade: 65) and MichelleTuesday.com/musicschool (Grade: 86). I graded several music school competitors, and they ranged from 34-63. I have a good idea of the things I need to do to get my grade up and, more importantly, generate sales leads. Having an actual open facility is sort of a prerequisite for the latter.
Incidentally, my "Readability Level" (one of the various parameters used to grade the site) ranged from "College Undergraduate" (for MT.com) to "Graduate School" (for MT.com/musicschool). Compare to my competitors, who range from "Primary / Elementary School" to "Secondary / High School". The kicker is that the grader recommends simplification, so my competitors seem to win that category.
Also, I am not naive enough to think that HubSpot's website grader (or Twitter Grader, Facebook Grader, or Blog Grader) is the be-all, end-all in Internet media analysis. HubSpot is just a company looking for your business ("Want to improve your grade? HubSpot can help!") Ultimately, the true analysis comes down to revenue, of which I am seeing little. But the suggestions HubSpot makes are definitely educational, and they're forcing me to learn new tricks.
In fact, now that I'm versed in HTML, Javascript, CSS, and PHP, I'm moving on to MySQL for data forms, collection and storage. At some point, I have to wonder if it wouldn't have made more sense to hire a web developer. But I find this stuff fun, and I like that I can easily edit my content and design at any time.
Since we're on the topic, I'm available for hire. Need a website developed? I'm your man. Er - woman. If the  price is right.
Launch one new performance repertoire song per week.
I'm ahead on this one.
Write one new original song per month.
Pending.
Brand the biz(es.)
Goal met. I still have lots of work to do on my website. I think I'm just a tinkerer. Also, did I mention my intern? A friend hooked me up with an intern, who would like some volunteer experience to boost her resume in exchange for a reference later. I have experience writing kick-ass references, sadly because I had to walk half of my staff out the Abbott door for a layoff in 2005. Her name is Julia, and she's interested in communication, presentations, and team projects. With the help of my soon-to-be office manager Chris, she is looking up advertising platforms and collecting information: pricing, how-to, etc. Then she will present her findings and recommendations to me.
I don't know how spiritual my readers tend to be. Personally, I have a hard time believing that I'm on the wrong path, when so many seemingly unrelated sources of support point to a power higher than coincidence.
Perform one household chore per day.
Goal met.
Read a book in print 15 minutes every day.
Goal met, and I'm moving right along in "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by 7/1/10.
Weight: Still hovering around 159, and once again, it's a new week. Once again, I'll keep track for real.
7:00am Coffee (1) |
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Is it sad that I'm sneaking a Wizard101 break while the middle schooler is at Grandma's house, since he's grounded from Wizard101 today? 
Post at MichelleTuesday.com at least once per week.
Goal met.
Grow MochaNotes.com blogs.
Dabbling in Domesticity : Up to date.
SEO: Alexa rankings MT.com 853k, MochaNotes.com 849k.
Launch one new performance repertoire song per week.
Goal met. I have a long-term goal with my repertoire, which I think of when I'm at Potbelly playing, but rarely otherwise. So I thought I'd capture it while it's on my mind. I'd like to sift through my songs and can the ones that don't fit the image I want to portray. Janis Joplin said that people, whether they know it or not, want their blues singers miserable. I'm fantastically grateful that I'm not a blues singer.
...and yet, I do sing some Joplin.
So I'm starting to think about my image - my BRAND as a musician - and wondering if songs like the Joplin tunes shouldn't be eliminated from my rep. They would not be my first choices as unique covers on a mostly-original album. I think I prefer songs with a positive message (damn! there go my Nirvana and Linkin Park lineups), and ones that display my voice in a soothing, pleasant manner (James Taylor, anyone?) Well, I'm not sure if I prefer that so much as my fans prefer that.
I've asked before, and I'll ask again: Please offer comments about this if you have them. 
Write one new original song per month.
Pending.
Brand the biz(es.)
Goal met. I still have lots of work to do on my website. I think I'm just a tinkerer.
Perform one household chore per day.
Goal met.
Read a book in print 15 minutes every day.
Goal met, and I'm moving right along in "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by 7/1/10.
Weight: Still hovering around 159. |
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I have no reason to be stressed today.
...and, actually, I haven't been feeling particularly stressed.
Post at MichelleTuesday.com at least once per week.
Goal met, with a new post today. 
Grow MochaNotes.com blogs.
Dabbling in Domesticity : Caught up.
SEO: Alexa rankings MT.Com=913k, MochaNotes.Com=902k. We are BOOKING! 
Launch one new performance repertoire song per week.
Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
Pending.
Brand the biz(es.)
Goal met. My youth band is playing at the Columbus "Red, White, and Boom!" event on Friday, July 2nd. I wrote a band description, and now I need to get a sign or banner printed to hang. On the lease front, I have a conference call scheduled this afternoon for some fine-point negotiating with my new landlord. And I made an appointment with an employment law attorney to talk about a contract and other considerations for my soon-to-be employees. And I got a list of computer recommendations IT consultant (my awesome brother) for my office, reception desk, band room, and computer lab. AND, with the help of the awesome, the amazing, the wonderful Robert Waltz  , I uploaded a biography at my performance website .
Today, I hope to get at least one of the computers ordered; get my next recital date confirmed with Potbelly; order software; and contact architects and contractors for my build-out. Ah, yes. Fun times.
Perform one household chore per day.
Goal met, but not caught up.
Read a book in print 15 minutes every day.
Goal met.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by 7/1/10.
Weight: 158.2. Points yesterday: 32, which is above my target of 25, but better than I've been doing.
6:30am Coffee (1)
8:45am FiberOne cereal (3) and coffee (1)
11:00am Crackers (4)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
4:30pm Turkey (1) and animal cookies (3)
TOTAL POINTS SO FAR: 20 |
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I have no reason to be stressed today.
Post at MichelleTuesday.com at least once per week.
Goal met.
Grow MochaNotes.com blogs.
Dabbling in Domesticity : My turn to post.
I feel more rested and relaxed so far this week. You know: all seven hours of it. (Six of which I slept through.)
SEO: Alexa rankings MT.Com=936k, MochaNotes.Com=923k.
Launch one new performance repertoire song per week.
Goal met, because I've launched about a half dozen in the last week or two, including some new 80s songs from my gig on Saturday.
Write one new original song per month.
Pending.
Brand the biz(es.)
Goal met.
Perform one household chore per day.
 I'm behind on laundry. Hoping to catch up today.
Read a book in print 15 minutes every day.
Goal met, with another chapter of "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan. I also watched "Alice in Wonderland" and got a good night's sleep to boot.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by 7/1/10.
Weight: 159.2. But I was good yesterday. I went to the Creekside Blues and Jazz Fest and completely avoided fair food! Well, not completely. I got one of those lemonade shake-ups with a fresh lemon and like a cup of sugar in one lemonade. But I really wanted a brat. And a big-ass barbecue turkey leg, Boss Hog style. And a fish and chips boat. And funnel cake. And chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick.
Still, it was a bad week, and once again, it's Monday, and I'll try again.
6:30am Fiber granola bar (2) and coffee (1)
TOTAL POINTS SO FAR: 3 |
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According to a Huffington Post article , Reader's Digest magazine may not make it to next year. This after the impending death of Newsweek . People just don't read words in print like they used to.
Folks, if you want to write professionally, you have to understand what people read. Like any business, it's about the revenue. It's about what people are willing to pay for. Sad as this is to say, there is no magic in being published. In fact, I'm published because I printed something I wrote one time. I think it's in my basement somewhere.
What is it that defines "publication" in the traditional sense? Having an ISBN? I could call myself a publisher and purchase a set of ISBNs from ISBN.org . Having my book listed on Amazon? Anybody anywhere can sell anything on Amazon, so long as you're willing to pay the fee .
When writers say they want to be published, they really mean that they want someone else to read their work, like it, and decide to invest in the book by paying all those fees on behalf of the author. That's nice, but it still doesn't guarantee the author will earn anything from the book, because it has to see revenue to earn royalties, and it has to sell to earn revenue.
So, it's really about sales. In fact, you could conceivably make more money - or earn more celebrity as an author - online than in print. Take Perez Hilton as a case in point.
These days, communication is cheap and easy. I read an article recently that predicted the downfall of cable television. Why would we pay so much money for a service we can get free online, through the likes of Yahoo! (for news), Hulu (for shows), and Netflix (for movies)?
Of course, the fiction writer in me envisions a future in which technology fails. When our Armageddon occurs, when we have to start over farming our own food, finding clean water supplies, and building our own shelters from logs chopped in the woods instead of factory-cut timbers purchased at Lowes, how will we play our MP3s and read our classics? Our iPods and iPads won't do us any good without an Internet infrastructure and good ol' electricity.
I'm just sayin'.
But fortunately, I still have the publication of mine, in print, no electricity required, in my basement somewhere. Maybe someone will find it and read it someday. |
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Post at MichelleTuesday.com at least once per week.
Goal met, and posts scheduled for the next few weeks.
Grow MochaNotes.com blogs.
Dabbling in Domesticity : I missed yesterday.  I at least brainstormed a list of titles. My next post is tomorrow.
SEO: No Alexa update yet today. Google PageRank still has not budged, but I have high hopes. When I start advertising in a month or so, I should have links pointing to my site from other local resources.
Launch one new performance repertoire song per week.
Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
Pending.
Brand the biz(es.)
Goal met. I met with Caroline, another potential teacher who has a doctorate in piano and agreed to teach a Master Class and possibly some ongoing adult classes. The night before last, I met an office admin with years of experience in running this exact kind of business. She was laid off by her last employer, so I plan to snag her up. We brainstormed for three hours over Max&Ermas cookies and $3 drinks, and that chicky has lots of good ideas. I'm thinking all three of us could do some serious brainstorming and kick-start this biz.
Perform one household chore per day.
I carried the hamper downstairs. That counts, right?
Read a book in print 15 minutes every day.
Not last night either. I had a headache all day yesterday. The three hours of $3 Max&Erma specials (Long Island Ice Tea on Mondays) might have contributed. {e:stupid} On the other hand, Keith swears my symptoms sounded like what was going around his office. Either way, it was only a 24-hour problem. I feel much better today.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by 7/1/10.
Didn't track. |
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Post at MichelleTuesday.com at least once per week.
Goal met.
Grow MochaNotes.com blogs.
Dabbling in Domesticity : Caught up.
SEO: Climbing again.
Launch one new performance repertoire song per week.
Goal met for several weeks, though I really need to brush up on my 80s songs. Also, I got a request for a Matt Maher song that's pretty sweet, and it's definitely my style:
Write one new original song per month.
Pending.
Brand the biz(es.)
Working on the website. Trying some things out.
Perform one household chore per day.
Laundry and dishes, although, as expected, the hamper is full again.
Read a book in print 15 minutes every day.
I read so much the night before that I took a day off. I'll read again today and finish the book.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by 7/1/10.
8:00am Coffee (1) and a bite of cornbread with pecan honey butter (2)
12:00pm The rest of the cornbread (5?), leftover fries (3?), and pulled pork (2?)
12:30pm Coffee (1)
TOTAL POINTS SO FAR: 14, but this is mostly a guess. And it doesn't bode well for our "breakfast for dinner" plans at Bob Evans tonight. *update: No Bob Evans, but snacks all night, ugh* |
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Post at MichelleTuesday.com at least once per week.
Pending, and I need to do this!
Grow MochaNotes.com blogs.
Dabbling in Domesticity : My turn today.
SEO: Alexa ratings MT.Com = 1.34 million, MN.Com=1.21 million.
Launch one new performance repertoire song per week.
 In progress. Today's goal: PRINT the new songs. Then sing them.
Write one new original song per month.
Pending.
Brand the biz(es.)
Goal met. Polished up my biz plan, because Commercial Property #2 wants to see it. Meanwhile, I'm still working on the church website. After that, I'll be poised to work on my own websites for awhile. 
Perform one household chore per day.
Goal met. I did one load of laundry. I'm still behind.
Read a book in print 15 minutes every day.
Yep, yep. I still love this goal.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by 7/1/10.
7:00am Coffee (1)
TOTAL POINTS SO FAR: 1
I had 15 points yesterday, and then I went out for Mexican. I probably ate another 15 points in chips alone, not to mention the cheese and guac I smothered them in, plus a taco, an enchilada, and some refried beans. It never sounds like a lot of food when you put it that way, but BLEH I felt so sick afterward. I definitely overate again. |
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Even better if she can whistle to the tune of Mozart or something. 
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, also known as Michelle Tuesday, is a musician, educator and writer hailing from Columbus, Ohio.![Merit Badge in Music
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To a dear friend whose talent for writing music is sensational. May you have a fabulous New Year, (((Brandi)))!!! *^*Kiss*^*
Big hugs,
Sherri *^*Heart*^*](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Music-1050.gif)
![Merit Badge in Organization
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I don't know how you do it, but I assume there's magic involved *^*Bigsmile*^* I have really enjoyed this month of planning and preparation for NaNoWriMo and I love how organized it all is. Thank you for hosting a great challenge and for your dedication to helping so many of us prepare with confidence and trepidation for National Novel Writing Month (known to sane folks as 'November' *^*Laugh*^*) at your [Link To Item #1474311]](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Organization-1150.gif)
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For your hard work, commitment, talent and innovation in running the October NaNoWriMo Preparation each year, which helps many of us get our scattered thoughts together for November's novel-writing. And also because this badge has ducks on it.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Leadership.gif)
