Back on April 18th I interviewed Tisha Best the creator of Serenity Quest and she plugged one of her favorite bloggers that she wanted to know more about. Today we’ve tapped Jennifer Jones, relationship specialist among other things, to let us into her world. So read and enjoy today’s MartyBLOGs guest.

1. How did you get into blogging about male/female relationships?

 

My blogging career began with my Goodness Graciousness site. Once I figured out how to blog I really enjoyed it!

 

Then one day an idea popped into my mind. I decided that a book I had written several years ago, How to Tell if a Guy is a Jerk,” but had not yet had published, would make a great blog. 

 

I had many friends who were picking not-so-great guys, and I was worked with young women who were making really poor choices when it came to relationships… so I thought the blog may help single women find the great men who are out there!

 

That very day I got online and started my, How to Tell if a Guy is a Jerk, and Find a Great Man, blog!

 

 

 

2. For those who haven’t yet read your blog give us your synopsis of the qualities a woman should look for in a decent man.

 

 

There are so many great men out there! Guys get a bad rap because there are so many not-so-great men who fill the media and get all the publicity but really, there are a lot of guys who really want to be great men!

 

I make a big point on my blog that a great man is not a “perfect” man… perfect men only exist in fairy tales. Too many women overlook really great men because they are waiting for the rich, famous, brilliant knight to come in and save them from life!

 

In reality great men are those men who do their best to live a good, decent, productive life. These men respect women, live with integrity, and bring goodness into the world.

 

Hence, my, How to Tell if a Guy is a Jerk , site is my attempt to help women clarify what makes a great man, notice their behavior that may contribute to picking the not-so-great men, and finally,  find the really great guys!

  

3. You mention mental health therapist, yoga instructor and musician as your non-cyber life. Tell us more about each and which is your full time profession?

 

 

I’m sort of a free spirit type so I combine all my career roles in the best way I can at any given moment.  Depending on the needs around me and the projects that interest me I focus on one or the other. 

 

 

Around the age of ten I became interested in playing the harp and once I began I just never stopped.  Music is just part of what is my energy!

 

That was also the year I discovered that there was such a thing as a psychologist and knew in that moment that I wanted to spend my life learning about the brain, neurology, and emotions.  The idea that I could help people as a therapist also stuck with me!  My specialization is in the field of abuse.  I started out working with survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, then, moved to working with abusers.  I also had a small private practice integrating mainstream therapy with alternative and complimentary healing methods and techniques.  I’m currently working to begin some new projects in my community.

 

I began practicing yoga at the age of fourteen years; again it is just part of my life.  I embrace its philosophy and find the asana practice (postures) extremely beneficial and  therefore became certified as a teacher.

  

4. Name someone who has had a significant and direct impact on your life and tell us more about them.

 

 

There are so many people who have made huge impacts on my life but since this site is about finding great men, I’m going to pick my father who is a fabulous and truly great man!

 

My father gave me the clear understanding of what is a great man!  His life reflects nobility and honor in everything he does.  My mother was ill for many years before her death and my father took fabulous care of her… he was an amazing husband, and is an incredible father and grandfather!  My father truly lives in accord with his values of honesty, integrity, and deep respect.  He taught me a lot about living and gave me a beautiful example of what is a great man!

  

5. Tell us about one person in your community who is relatively unknown to the rest of the world, who you believe is significant in some way, and that you would like the rest of the world to know more about.

 

 

I live in rural Virginia, in a small community, on a quiet street where we all know and care for each other.  What stands out for me is that there is not one person who stands out as more significant than any other but most people in my area quietly go about their daily lives living the best they can, taking care of their families, contributing to our community, helping each other, and making a difference.

 

While the world is often focused on the rich, attractive, famous, or powerful people, the real heroes and heroines are the common people who in their own quite way bring goodness to our world!

 

 

6. Who are the two bloggers you read the most and why? Include their links and tell us why we should subscribe to their feeds.

 

 

Ohhh there are so many blogs I love and read! Let’s see, I’ll pick the first two that I read this morning. 

 

My cyber friend Dave is a remarkable writer and deep thinker and always has thought provoking discussions on his blog, Wandering the Ether. He is great at giving us insight while allowing for contemplation and exploration. 

 

Also my friend Breeze has a wonderful blog that I can’t miss, Lucid Nutrition. Actually both her blogs are great!  Breeze is one of those souls whose care for our earth and each other, shines forth in her writing.  The tag line for her blog is, “Intelligible Provisions for the body, mind, heart & soul.”  It truly is!

  

7. Where are you talking your blog over the next five to ten years?

 

 

Hmmm… I started my blog on a whim, as I do most things. One day I read about blogs and thought it would be fun to have one… the next day, there it was! I am the antithesis of a techie so do not really have any idea what will come next. I just like to write and share ideas, and so we’ll see what comes. Hopefully I will get better at the tech stuff so I can do all those fun things bloggers do!

 

I am hoping to get custom headers on my Goodness Graciousness, and Art of Intimacy sites.  For techies this is not a big deal but for me it is huge!  So… maybe this is in the future!

 

I really enjoy blogging and may continue for some time but if something else calls to me I may just do something different.

 

 

8. Name the three SEO tips that have seemed most effective at drawing readers to you up to this point.

 

 

This is so funny because it took me a long time to figure out what a SEO even was. I still know absolutely nothing about this. If anyone has any tips I could use them because I do not do any form of marketing or promoting or SEO stuff at all. I have read many blogs that share ideas on how to get readers but I gave up trying to figure it all out. I spent hours and hours and hours… make that weeks trying to get the RSS feed thing on my blog and still don’t know if it works.  I gave up doing the “digg” thing, or the email feed, or all those other things bloggers are supposed to do. 

 

I just write material that I think is interesting, insightful, beneficial, or fun and hope people who would enjoy it will find it!  (That’s probably not quite what you had in mind huh?) 

 

So… I guess if I had to give a few tips for finding readers it would be to write about that which you love, be consistent and enjoyable, and have fun blogging! J

 

 

9. Tell my readers a little about your other two blogs, “Goodness Graciousness” and “The Art of Intimacy”.

 

 

My Goodness Graciousness site is really the blog of my heart. It is my passion! I share my personal thoughts, ideas, inspirations, hopes, and dreams. And I try to balance some practical, simple ideas with some more profound or deep thoughts to ponder and explore. I also make a concerted effort to highlight others who bring goodness into the world.

 

I seriously love this blog. I created it, really for myself thinking it may be a way to help me focus on the good, and then possibly share a little goodness and graciousness with others. What I have found however, is an amazing community of incredible and insightful people who are doing brilliant things, sharing love and light, living noble and holy lives of goodness.  I am deeply and humbly grateful others find this blog brings a little light into their world as well!

 

My Art of Intimacy site began as a response to the growing number of couples who are finding their partnerships less than vibrant and passionate. 

 

I have this deep belief that the majority of marriages/long term relationships can be alive and exciting and fulfilling if couples nurture and nourish their partnership… so I fill the blog with ideas, research, quotes, techniques, and insights that will hopefully help couples find a way to strengthen their marriages and get that spark back!

 

 

10. What other blogger have you always wanted to know more about?

 

 

I have discovered so many amazing people in this cyber world! So many fun, insightful, fabulous people that I could pick dozens of folks…

 

I’ll pick my friend Sumangali who has such a delightful blog full of interesting thoughts and inspiring insights!  Visiting her blog is like taking a breath of fresh cool air after a hot summer rain!

 

Thanks Martin!  It’s been a lot of fun!  J 

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Thank you Jennifer. We try to keep it fun and light when we can and you have done your part to contribute to the cause.

 

Well MartyBLOGgers stay tuned for more stuff as the Great Transition continues…

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One of my more recent blogger buddies that I’ve had the opportunity to interact with is none other than Theo Johnson. If you haven’t heard Theo’s podcast you have to check it out. Theo is going to be one of my early BlogTalkRadio guests when we get the show going. In the mean time you’ll get a feel for what we’ll be talking about in today’s text interview. Allow me to introduce one of the blogosphere’s coolest innovators…Mr. Theo Johnson. 

 

 

1. What is your full time career aside from blogging and pod casting? Tell us all about it.

 

 

I’m a contract computer programmer. I contract through a small business that I set up in 2003. When I was a kid I was introduced to computers by my cousin and have been hooked ever since. I guess you could say technology has become my life’s calling.

 

2. How long have you been blogging and what was your motivation to begin using this medium?

 

 

About a year ago, I decided to start a podcast called “Theo Talks”. The podcast took some time to create, so I had to find a way to keep people coming to the site between recording times. So I started blogging and it worked well. I enjoyed interacting with people from different areas of life and I learned a lot about myself as I wrote each post. The things that I’m not able to talk about in the podcast are blogged about during the week.

 

3. When did you begin your podcast? How did you select your podcasting platform?

 

 

It really started out of curiosity. I listened to podcasts for a while and felt like I could do it also. I didn’t know too many African-Americans with podcasts, so I wanted to learn it for myself to teach others. I think it’s a great way to communicate with a mass audience. It’s affordable and with a little time and dedication anyone can do it.

 

I wanted to podcast on a topic that I thought was interesting. I didn’t know who would listen, but I felt finding a topic I liked would make it easier for me to come up with content.

 

4. You’re a really good host. How did you hone your speaking skills? Do you or have you considered adding public speaking to your repertoire?

 

 

Thanks! It’s funny you’d say that. I never felt public speaking was one of my strengths, which was one of my main reasons for starting the show. In the beginning, I edited out a lot of “umms” and “ahhs”, but I try to limit that as much as possible. I think it got easier when I stopped focusing on using correct grammar and started being myself. While I still edit out pauses at times, it’s gotten easier and I hope to get better as I do more shows.

 

I haven’t considered public speaking, but I’m always open to it. It’s one of those small fears that I have, but the best way to conquer that is to do more of it.

 

5. Name three famous historical figures, living or deceased, you would like to meet and tell us why.

 

Dizzy Gillespie – I play the trumpet and he is one of my favorite jazz artists. I’d like to learn as much as possible from him and hear stories about life as a musician.

 

Thomas Dorsey – He is the “Father of Gospel Music”. Coming from a blues background, he had to overcome a lot to get people to understand his music was for the church. I’d like to know what obstacles he had to overcome to get people to accept his music.

 

Bill Gates – This guy is the ultimate geek. While I despise his most of his products, you have to admire the fact that his software is used on most computers built around the world.

 

 

6. Tell us about one person in your community who is relatively unknown to the rest of the world, who you believe is significant in some way, and that you would like the rest of the world to know more about.

 

 

My high school band director, Mr. Ronald Thornton. Before teaching at my high school, he was the band director for the Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul. He was my first private lesson teacher, so I was able to learn a lot at young age (I even got to play with the band). By the time I made it to high school, I was ready to hang with the big boys. He allowed me to hold various leadership positions in the band and prepped me to lead my section in the last two years in high school. The leadership skills I acquired are ones that I used throughout my collegiate and professional career. I learned a lot from him and appreciate the fact that he trusted me to take on those positions when available.

 

7. Recommend three books we should read and keep on our bookshelves at all time for reference and tell us why we should.

 

 

The first book I would have to choose is the Bible. I grew up in the church and my parents taught me the importance of using it for everyday problems. It has solution for every situation you can face, so I’ve come to rely on it. It amazes me how a book written so long ago, still applies to situations today.

 

“Before You Quit Your Job: 10 Real-Life Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Building a Multimillion-Dollar Business” by Robert Kiyosaki. If you are thinking about starting a business, you need to read this book. He gives some really good examples of problems he’s faced in the business-world and the best ways to handle them.

 

“Covenant with Black America” by Tavis Smiley. There are a lot of issues facing the black community and this book takes ten of them and presents them in an easy to read format with solutions on what we can to individually. I chose the issue I want to work on and hope to make strides in making a difference in my community.

 

8. What impact do you hope to make with your blogging? 

 

I just want to show people anyone can to this. To me, blogging is doing what hip-hop set out to do. It was a way of letting people know what was going on in their community. I want to be a voice for people who feel they don’t have one. Blogging and podcasting is a way to do that.

 

9. Who are the two bloggers you read the most and why? Include their links and tell us why we should subscribe to their feeds.

 

 

The Electronic Village The Villager has some really interesting posts that educate his readers. Each time I visit I learn something new. I like the community he’s building through his blog.

 

Vanessa: Unplugged. She has also has some good thought-provoking articles that are very well-written. I admire people like her and Villager who can write. It’s a skill that I’m always working on and their blogs are good examples of what I want to reach for content wise.

 

10. Where are you taking your blog over the next ten years?

 

 

I just want to inspire people to start their own blogs. It’s easy and everyone has an opinion. That’s all you really need to get started. The internet has made the world a lot smaller. I want to get more of an international presence and build a place where information and ideas are shared from all parts of the world.

 

I also want to see how I can monetize my blog. I never thought of it until I started reading Paula Mooney’s blog. This is why I changed theojohnson.net  to a blog. We’ll see how it goes.

 

·          Bonus question: At the risk of seeming competitive with each other, what other blogger have you always wanted to know more about that you would like me to interview next?

 

There are so many good blogs out there, it’s hard to choose. My choice for your next interview is going to be M.L. Hodges , a good friend of mine from college. We are business partners and have learned a lot about each other, but he has a writing style that I really admire. Most of the time we feel the same way about certain issues and he has a very thought-provoking blog that challenges the status quo. I think a lot of people would enjoy what he’s doing there.

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Marty, thanks for choosing me as one of your interviewees. I’m honored and humbled. I think you’re doing a great job with your site and having the interviews is a great idea. The purpose and motivation behind your blogging is a worthwhile cause and I’m sure you’re making a difference in lives of the people who visit your site. Keep up the good work.

 

Theo

 

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Thank you for joining me Theo. Ladies and gents, Mr. Theo Johnson.