Aloha Friday

It's Aloha Friday..... and here I am in the crossroad of trying to accomplish so much, yet trying to relax and take it easy.  When will I ever strike a balance, I do not know....

A new friend of mine, Michelle, also posted about Aloha Friday in her blog. I guess this is a common struggle, a common issue to deal with.  I am glad to learn she is choosing to come alive. To live life to its fullest without being warpped up in the things that do not really matter in the end.

I know that for me, this is a constant struggle, but there is always hope and victory.  What I need to remember is to live the life that God gave me and to fulfill the calling that He has called me to do.  The challenge is clearly finding out what those callings are.....

This Will Only Take A Few Minutes, I Promise

There are 101 things to do on my list.  And writing this post is not one of them.  But this will only take a few minutes, I promise.  I just want to give you some updates on me (assuming that you are interested to know about me):

* HopeLap e-mailed me. They loved my post.  They recognized my influence in the Social Media world.  However, the glitch that I thought was a glitch is still a glitch.  Actually, it's not just a glitch.  It's a hindrance.  It boils down to "I am on Maui and they are on Redwoods City, San Francisco Bay, California".  The person to get the job has to be there, not here.  Should I move there then? Nah! Can't. Anyway, it was very encouraging to hear from them.  I still support Hopelab and now that I am made aware of it and its mission, I will help promote them.

* I am re-igniting my passion for being an advocate for kids with learning disabilities.  The passion actually hasn't died, but it was buried a little bit as I focused more on promoting Maui, than developing a blog about LD that I started earlier.  So after I log off here, I am heading to that blog called "Learning Nest" to upload more info there.  I also am re-uniting with a group of parents who are passionate advocates for kids with learning disabilities.  It's good to be surrounded with peeps who knows exactly what a parent of a child with LD is going through.

* I still have a cough.  I just took a spoonful of Robitussin cough syrup and it tasted horrible! Whoever invents a cough syrup that will taste like ice cream and still works will be  billionaire. Bleh! the aftertaste of this syrup is still in my mouth!

Ok, few minutes up! Aloha io!

Am I the One For HopeLab?

A Twitterfriend of mine e-mailed me yesterday with this subject line: "a job 4 u?".  In it was a link to a Manager of Communications and Emerging Media open position at Hope Lab. As I read the post I had to agree with my friend that that job opening could possibly be well for me.  It is definitely in line with my passion, with my personal mission, and my experiences as well.  All day yesterday I was musing and contemplating on this opportunity.  Surely there will be many applicants who will apply for this job.  What would make me stand out from the rest?

Thinking about it more, I have come to a conclusion that it's not a matter of "standing out from the rest" it's a matter of "am I the right fit?". So, let me tackle that a bit.  Let me lay the cards out here and let them decide if I am the piece of the puzzle they are looking for. I will bare all - the pluses and the minuses, the way I see it. The reasons why they should hire me, and the reasons why they might think it won't work out.


Let me change my voice from here on and let's pretend I am talking to HopeLab:

THE PLUSES:

1. HopeLab needs someone who is "passionate, driven, innovative, and fun to work with". My references can attest that I have those qualities.  In the virtual world, you can check with @Jowyang, @NEENZ, @RoxanneDarling @Peterliu47 and more (I can give you hundreds of references).  In real life IRL, you can e-mail my boss at Spencer Homes Maui. I worked with Spencer Homes for 13 years ... we are slow at the moment, so I am in-between jobs.  I am sure they will call me back once we start our new project. But for now, I need a job.

2. I am passionate about using the emerging media to accomplish life's missions and make a difference in my family and friends, my community, and the world.  I have used it to help family in crisis,  promote the tourism industry in the island I live on, and foster good communication among parents and teachers in the school where my kids go to. I use social media effectively in many ways. I am very active in the social media world.  I have a very good reputation.  Klout.com says I am influential when I checked on my status as @amauiblog. "Thought leader" is the term they used.


3. I am passionate about helping kids live healthy lives.  "I am a mother, hear me roar!" was one of our favorite line in this parents forum that I was very active at at one point (Schwablearning.com).  I have two kids, one just turned 13 and one turning 12 soon.  Seriously, I am a mother who has a  a mission to raise my kids right in this crooked world of ours.  It'll be great to have the opportunity to help more kids in addition to my own.

4. I love sticky notes. I use them all the time!

THE MINUSES

1. I live on Maui, Hawaii. HopeLab's office is in San Franscisco Bay Area.  I do not think I can convince my family to move to CA.  Actually I love living on Maui myself.  Would Hoplab allow virtual remote offices?  Would there be an airline sponsoring me to go to their office on a regular basis to touch base?

2. I am not a bona fide geek.  I am a semi-geek.  I do have the technical knowledge and abilities to use many of the social media applications, but I know that I still have to learn a lot more.  I can easily learn though. And I am good friends with a lot of geeks.  Collaboration is the key in overcoming this weakness.

3. English is my second language.  I love to write and I express myself well in writing.  However, in writing blog posts, I take a lot of time because I have to check and double check my English.  I don't write as eloquently as many writers do.  Most of my writings are conversational and not journalistic. I do not use a lot of "big words".  Feel free to check out my blogs (A Maui Blog and Liza's Eyeview) and there you will see my writing styles.

THE IN-BETWEEN

There are many things to consider I am sure.  In between those plusses and minusses, there are skills that I have, educational background, experiences, personality traits, etc.  For more of that formalities, please check out my Linked In Page: Liza Pierce. 


It would be nice to hear from HopeLab.  Maybe an interview would give us a better understanding wether I fit or not. We shall see.... stay tuned.

Updates and Stuff

Updates from the Maui Pierces - super random, delivered fresh from my mind:

1. I have a lot of white/gray hair spouting. No I am not going to dye.
2. My husband is turning 50 this week. He still looks young.
3. I now have a teenager. G turned 13 last month.
4. N is now in Middle School, and will turn 12 soon.
5. And she had her braces installed two weeks ago.
6. G is going to have his braces installed next week.
7. Yes, I could have bought a brand new car instead of their braces. That's how expensive they are!
8. My recent mammogram showed some abnormalities - I have to go back for more + ultrasound.
9. I still love blogging .. and tweeting, and yes facebooking too.
10. I love meeting people from all over the world - digital and in real like (IRL)
11. I hardly sleep at night.  "Sleep deprived" is the term they use.
12. My job is a little bit unstable because the process to get our project approve takes a long time.
13. But I am not worried - God always provides.
14. I am in love with our dog.  Italian Greyhounds rock.
15. And contrary to what my hubby thinks, I also love our 2 cats  (he says I don't). 
16. I love living on Maui.
17. But I also miss my family a lot.
18. My niece Eli is way too cute!
19. And Josh and Josiah are handsome young men.
20. I should count my blessing often. 
21. My 2 kids are awesome! I can say that because I am their mom.
22. It's 6:35 AM on Maui. I am going back to bed and read.  It's Saturday!

1 Peter 5:6-10

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 Peter 5:6-10 (NIV)