Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

Motivational Speaker

To the Employers Who Refused Me a Job, You Lose!

Filed under: Living with a disability,Work — by at 4:09 pm on Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Reflecting upon the video I created yesterday, I indulged myself briefly in a sense of pride and accomplishment. I had followed a creative idea through development to completion using various software programs and skills that I had learned myself.

Surely those are characteristics of a valuable employee! Yet, during my job search years, only one employer chose to take a chance on me, and that was for a grant-funded position. Once the year was up and the funding gone, I was out of a job. No other employer gave me the opportunity to prove what I was capable of and what I could bring to the organization. They could not see past my jerky cerebral palsy movements, my significant speech impairment and my painfully slow typing speed.

In recent years I have questioned why did I bother with five years at high school and seven years at university, working hard to keep up (and sometimes surpass) my classmates and friends, only to watch them land jobs with decent salaries, Christmas bonuses and pension plans while I’m still stuck on social assistance, labeled as unemployable. Was all of that work for nothing? Why did I bother?

But then I think back to what I have accomplished by not having a J O B. I’ve written and self-published a book, which took umpteen skills, creativity, determination and perseverance.

Just this year I’ve wowed the pants off of many with my SOBCon and WordCamp presentations – not only with the content but also by the method. Who else combines PowerPoint with captions and a text-to-speech voice the way I do?

My blog, now four years old (another sign of determination and diligence), has a loyal worldwide readership and currently has an Alexa ranking of 357,412, which is higher than many so-called experts’ blogs and websites.

Daily I connect with hundreds of colleagues, friends and contacts, regardless of location or time zone, on Twitter and Facebook – essential tools nowadays. Last night I Skype chatted via video with friends on the Gold Coast of Australia and then with my brother in Alberta.

To those employers who refused to hire me because of my typing speed and “poor” communication skills, you failed to think creatively and to think outside of the box – an ability I could have brought to your organization. The name, reputation and exposure, which I have created for myself, I would have willingly and gladly created for your business, had I been given the opportunity. But, you didn’t look beyond my cerebral palsy to see what I could offer. For that reason, you lose!

By persevering and thinking creatively, I know that opportunities – with benefits better than Christmas bonuses and pension plans – await. By combining these skills and tools that I have acquired I know I’m on the way to hitting it big and to getting off of social assistance permanently. For that reason, I will win!

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Introducing Faith the Talking CFO

Filed under: Social Media — by at 11:18 am on Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The week before Christmas I participated in a webinar series on social media organized and hosted by Dana Dunn of Women with Passion and Purpose. Among the lineup of passionate women speakers was Pam Brossman talking about using video to promote your own business. I wasn’t too sure how I could implement video into my own business – talking in front of a camera isn’t really my thing, except for once a year. Then my friend Suzie Cheel suggested that I could create PowerPoint videos.

Later that evening my ever-informative husband Darrell pointed me to a Bob Schultz video that apparently was viewed several hundred thousand time the first weekend it was up. Viewing the video, I was unsure what the big deal was about a photo of three basset hound puppies with text balloons overhead. But if that is what catches people attention and goes viral, perhaps there’s something to it!

That got me thinking. My brain was churning while wrapping gifts, eating turkey with family and indulging in way too many yummy goodies. After all that, I am excited to introduce Faith the Talking CFO…

This video is intended as an experiment, to figure the technical aspect. Future videos will have more compelling messages by Faith.

Do you think this crazy idea has potential?

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Letter to Santa 2009

Filed under: General — by at 11:35 pm on Thursday, December 24, 2009

Three candles burning in the windowDear Santa,

Christmas cards have been mailed, gifts wrapped, and dinner planned. All that remains, before tucking myself in for a long winter’s nap, is to write you a quick note.

Once again I am stumped what to write. I do not have a long list of gifts that I would like under the tree. You see, I have everything I could want or need – and then some.

The only one thing that I would like to ask for is that my family and friends, near and far, receive the one gift that they truly need at this point in their life’s journey.

Wishing you and the reindeer a safe trip. Merry Christmas!

With love from, 
Glenda 

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Holiday Greetings from the Left Thumb Blogger

Filed under: General — by at 3:58 pm on Friday, December 18, 2009

My holiday video message to my readers, friends and fans:

For those preferring the text version:

Hi readers, friends and fans,

Thank you for a most awesome year!

I would like to wish you a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

All of the best to you and your family in the New Year!

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Streamline in 2009 I Did Not

Filed under: Blogging,Motivation,Social Media — by at 1:36 pm on Wednesday, December 16, 2009

For the past two years I have followed Christine Kane’s lead in choosing one word to guide me through the year. Focus was my word for 2008. What I discovered about finding focus was interesting and quite helpful.

Frustrated with needing to manage several lines of communications – emails, tweets Facebook comments and the like – my word for 2009 was streamline.

In 2009 I intended
To email, DM and PM
My people, peeps and tweeps
For wazoodles, widgets and gidgets
To follow, connect and friend
Friends, readers, robots too!

I did not find a way
I am sad to say
To mash together
Facebook, Linkedln, Flickr,
YouTube, Viddler, and Twitter.

I did not find a way
To be the best connector,
Inter-actor and communicator
With one left thumb.

“The reason?” you ask.
I was too busy
Emailing, tweeting, commenting,
Following, too,
To find a better way.
Streamline in 2009, I did not.

But, all is not lost.
There’s still hope
For a new year begins soon
And I’m giving myself a redo!

A do-over to try again
To mash together
All these messages,
To be the best connector,
Inter-actor and communicator
With one left thumb.

Will you help me
Streamline in 2010?
Would you leave your
Thoughts, ideas and tips
On wazoodles, widgets and gidgets
To follow, connect and friend
Friends, readers, robots too,
In the comment box below, please?
I thank you,
My friends, my readers,
My followers, too!

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