Blog at an Impasse: Need Your Help

Hello.  I have been writing posts for this blog for a number of years. It started out as an extension of my duties with Impact Publications, Inc., a Waupaca, WI-based company that produces trainings for the child care, adult care, and foster care fields – in addition to newsletters for the job training and placement, and employee assistance professions.

In more recent years, especially after I resigned at Impact, it has focused entirely on workplace and employee assistance topics under the title, elevatingeapawareness  – since driving awareness of this often-overlooked profession is a passion of mine.

Recently, feedback from readers has drawn to a standstill, and my writing ideas are also running dry after more than 500 posts! In fact, I am at the point where I am considering discontinuing this blog. And so, I have a few questions:

* Do you, as a reader, see value in this blog as a way of increasing awareness of the employee assistance profession?

* If so, what topics would you like to see covered? I also edit a monthly newsletter for the EA profession titled “Employee Assistance Report,” and so I am very receptive about “cross-pollinating” ideas.

* What workplace topics would you like to see addressed in future blog posts?

* Does your EAP or other organization have a blog, but you find it difficult to find time to post, so it is not driving results? I can write posts on many topics tailored to your INDIVIDUAL EAP.

As appreciation for your time, respondents will be entered into a drawing for a Netflix card valued at $30. Thank you.

Mike Jacquart

Writer, Editor, Author

Write it Right LLC

http://www.writeitrightllc.com

A

Play a Game of Chess Each Day

At first, I thought a blog post about playing chess might be a tad far-fetched, but with all of the articles we’ve read about maintaining our cognition as we age, what with Alzheimer’s disease affecting so many of us, chess needs some promotion! Chess is also rather nostalgic for me as my high school team in Two Rivers, Wisconsin won the national, yes you read that right NATIONAL championship when I was a high school junior in the 1970s!  For more, read on from guest blogger Vincent Carlos….

When I was a kid, I used to love playing chess. But, for whatever reason, I fell out of it.

Recently, however, I’ve started playing a lot more of it. And I’m obsessed with it again. So much so that I’m convinced that everyone should play at least one game of chess daily.

And I’m not just saying that either. According to many studies, playing chess provides a long list of much-needed benefits:

– It helps prevent Alzheimer’s.

– It exercises both sides of your brain.

– It increases creativity.

– It improves memory.

– It improves problem-solving skills.

– It increases IQ.

– It improves reading skills.

– It improves concentration.

– It improves planning and foresight,

– It improves cognitive skills.

– And it’s fun.

These are the reasons I play at least one game of chess every day. I recommend you play a daily game of chess too.

If chess is something you think you want to get into, then I highly recommend the book “Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess” by former chess world champion Bobby Fischer. It’s a great book for beginners.