BlogBloghttp://sylwiapresley.com/blog/2013-05-25T22:05:22ZSquarespaceAbout the noisehttp://sylwiapresley.com/blog/2013/5/24/about-the-noise.htmlSylwia Presley2013-05-24T22:23:36Z2013-05-24T22:23:36ZPeople tell me that the web is noisy, yet there are real treasures in that noise if you care to look (and choose your on-line connections and informaiton sources). This video, in my opinion, is quite inspiring. It's life in its essense, wouldn't you agree?
]]>Choosing the right signalhttp://sylwiapresley.com/blog/2013/5/20/choosing-the-right-signal.htmlSylwia Presley2013-05-20T13:18:12Z2013-05-20T13:18:12ZMy writing place
Seth Godinposted about choosing the right signal - a story which relates closely to us but also to our audience. As a (post)modern writer one always has a choice to respect or completely ignore their audience of course. Yet if writing for social good, for any other type of change, understanding one's audience becomes critical to success.
I am thinking about writing a lot nowadays. In the entire process of restoration, as I call it (and hope to post about it in more details soon) I have arrived to the place where I know exactly what I want to say and now it is up for me to decide just how I want to do it and what tools/methods are still missing from my potential success. By success I mean simply a small shift in reader's thinking, a little thought or a little light bulb in her or his head. Let's see.
I am back to writing, yes. It's painful but I am not alone with it. Few close, trusted friends are here with me.
And my neighbours black cat! His presence somewhat calms down all my thoughts and helps me focus. Let's just hope that I have indeed chosen the right signals!
]]>Minecraft for education - useful linkshttp://sylwiapresley.com/blog/2013/5/18/minecraft-for-education-useful-links.htmlSylwia Presley2013-05-18T14:33:00Z2013-05-18T14:33:00Z
My son and boyfriend are playing Minecraft for a while now and yet ever time I mention it during my presentations or trainings as a good educational tool I can feel that people worry. Yes, it is proven that gaming can have a very detrimental effect on our kids but I do not think we should base our judgement on an overall "feeling" without a proper investigation and testing. I see my son is using his - rather limited - time on Minecraft to build, construct, discover and find solutions to occurring problems. His understanding of space and building in blocks provoked discussions about Oxford's architecture, design of major world sights and so on. So before you stop your kids from playing Minecraft I suggest you find a moment to try it out and test it for yourself. If you wish to investigate work already conducted in this area, here are few links:
Let me know how your kids are using this game and what you think about it!
]]>The Guardian Voluntary Q&Ahttp://sylwiapresley.com/blog/2013/5/18/the-guardian-voluntary-qa.htmlSylwia Presley2013-05-18T08:02:00Z2013-05-18T08:02:00ZOn Wednesday I had the privilege to join the Guardian Voluntary discussion about sharing of best practices in nonprofit sector in the UK. You can read the entire discussion here but in this post I would like to sum up few points purely for individuals working for nonprofits (something I am currently working on as I am writing my first book). In order to learn and achieve best practices in digital fundraising, marketing and other areas of social good I suggest the following:
1. Read, read, read!
Listen to conversations on-line and off-line. Read industry press. Read conversations on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn - but do not limit yourself just to the leading social channels. Follow at least few industry leaders in all spaces - even if today it will be rather annoying Vine;) Read industry blogs (I suggest Netvibes.com if you were a fan of Google Reader). Subscribe to lists. Create your own Paper.li newspaper on the topic.
2. Research before planning!
There are quire a few platforms featuring great case studies, industry updates and best practices but think outside of the box. If you are planning a Twitter based campaign you will probably follow few charities there, but might want to check out UKFundraising and Osocio for good examples and Mashable for newest developments of this particular platform.
3. Study!
KnowHow Nonprofit Study Zone is a brilliant start and with names of tutors from their programmes you will be able to find other relevant courses. Look out for free webinars too - most of the leading social media platforms and tools will offer those on a regular basis.
4. Test your ideas on friends!
To move completely outside of your current comfort zone ask your closes friends to review your idea and ask yourself: if I was to see it on-line would I get involved and if so, how?
5. Share and collaborate!
I know that each sector, each entity has its own competitors but online it is simply polite to share. Read "Trust Agents" if you are still not convinced and adopt the formula of giving more than your own asks.
I hope this is useful and thank you to the Guardian Voluntary for inviting me!
]]>Why do you work for a nonprofit?http://sylwiapresley.com/blog/2013/5/17/why-do-you-work-for-a-nonprofit.htmlSylwia Presley2013-05-17T13:05:27Z2013-05-17T13:05:27ZBack in April Alex asked me to respond to his post. I am sorry it took so long - here it is though. Why did I get involved in charity? Well, I guess to sum up I always felt that I want to help people. I cannot say just how far back it dates - I was raised in a Catholic family, I was an active member of Polish Scouting and I was surrounded by charitable people (which just for the record is not as popular in my homeland as it is in the UK). I think there is a more personal reason though - I had someone really really close in my childhood often terrorising me with the statement that "I have no heart!" - as cruel as it sounds this particular person has shaped my almost rebellious attitude towards ignorance and indifference. I think in early years of my life I always wanted to prove them wrong but with time my charitable activities shaped a habit, I good habit I hope. Occasionally I would take it to extreme, sometimes I would focus more on my marketing/business related work. When I moved to the UK my life has tested me again and I have landed in a situation in which I myself required a lot of support so since then I think another reason for me to get involved is that underlying feeling that I owe something to this world. But maybe I just see it this way and my perspective is again driven more by habit? At the end of the day if you hear from someone that true, deep, honest "thank you" you probably forger about your reasons and focus on repeating it all over again. I dare to think that volunteering, work for a charity or other ways of helping others can be addictive too. In a good way.
Alex, I hope this answers your question but I am happy to discuss in more detail.
]]>Atari breakout on Google!http://sylwiapresley.com/blog/2013/5/16/atari-breakout-on-google.htmlSylwia Presley2013-05-16T20:31:33Z2013-05-16T20:31:33Z
This is what my boyfriend shows me when I say I feel sad - Atari Breakout on Google Image search. Turns out, as Mashable reports, that Google is commemorating the 37th birthday of Atari's famous game with a small image search surprise. Go ahead and type "Atari breakout in your image search now! Make sure your kids are around so they can have fun too!;) I'm pretty rubbish at it, as you can see, but it did make me smile!:)
As some of you might know Twestival is back but this time, in 2013 you can register and organise your event any time - not just on one day. I have so far organised all Oxford Twestivals but this year I will be spending more time on the global community team so you can chat to me on @twestival too. In the meantime watch this one and pass it on to all relevant friends - it's a great initiative. Happy to be even more involved this year!
]]>Twitter training for our local museumhttp://sylwiapresley.com/blog/2013/5/13/twitter-training-for-our-local-museum.htmlSylwia Presley2013-05-13T20:11:37Z2013-05-13T20:11:37Z
Here are the slides from my Saturday trainings at our local museum. I will be hosting more free sessions on social media so keep reading their blog. Thank you to all attendees - it's great to see you on Twitter!
Three years ago I met someone. I have no words to explain just how it felt, a little bit like that "first" kiss. We have joined our paths and walk this life together now and all our friends cannot help but feel that we have ALWAYS been together. When each of us, separately, gets to experience the right amount of right and wrong; when our warm, bright and rather dark memories shape us into a more aware, sensitive human; it is then that we learn to treasure the miracle of love.
I know that love has many faces, many kinds. I myself have always told my friends "oh, this one is so much deeper than the last one" and I think I was quite true to my feelings too - I have grown to learn to feel the sunshine. Over the years life has tested me a lot but somehow I have always felt that one day the right time will come. A moment in which all my experiences would help me realise, notice, accept and treasure love.
But life can be oh so surprising! When love arrived and when I opened my heart and life to live it I realised that it's not a moment, not one single unit of time or space - it's a continuum! It's a state, a shift, a different view on reality.
@Zerolab is a person who with a single word, gesture or even with his silence shows me the magic in the most ordinary situations. He points out to me the unlimited, undefined, unconditional. Nothing is the same, yet so familiar. Bad times become a simple temporary challenge (which we are to conquer together or if I wish to do it on my own I know he is there, waiting for me) but the good time are simply multiplying with one glimpse into infinity. Seas turn into rocks when I am loosing my ground. Clouds steal me away and send above the horizon each time my daily jobs or tasks manage to kill my soul. He always is my compass, no matter what.
We are celebrating 3 years today. Even 3 years ago it felt like we have know each other for ever. Today it only feels a bit clearer that the infinity and eternity are ours because we care. We care for each other, people around us and for the world.
I wish you all this type of love. Love that takes you and the other person and goes out towards entire humanity, multiplies and makes us all smarter.
]]>"It's the closest thing we have to superpower"http://sylwiapresley.com/blog/2013/4/30/its-the-closest-thing-we-have-to-superpower.htmlSylwia Presley2013-04-30T11:00:06Z2013-04-30T11:00:06ZI am amazed just how much I learn at work! At a college I help with social media strategy a student posted this as their feedback to the current coding course. This, and similar materials, inspire younger generation to learn. I think it's time for me to pick it up too.
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My writing place
