Blogger Profile: Nancy Zimmerman

Even though it is a day late, here is this weeks Blogger Profile. Our blogger this week is Nancy the Money Coach, who is one of the leading forces of our social media club here in Yellowknife. She is all for Web 2.0 and Gov 2.0 and will do great things for Yellowknife. Check out here profile below.

Who are you?

#42. No wait. Sorry that’s the meaning of life.
Who am I? pop by my blog, hang out a while, and you’ll find out.

Where do you blog?

I hope one day soon I shall be blogging again from Javaroma, but for now I’m blogging from home.

Why do you blog?

I started blogging because it was a much less expensive form of marketing than print — and I got more business! But even though I’m on sabbatical from my money-coaching business, I’m still blogging for several reasons:

• It gives me voice to speak about issues I care about
• The blogosphere satisfies part of my social (yes, online relationships are “real”!) and intellectual needs
• I enjoy living in this new, global, web 2.0 space and participating in its evolution

What is the best part of blogging? …Or worst?

I love the interaction with people from all over the world. My global awareness and access to new ideas has skyrocketed since blogging. The worst part is sometimes the best, too: the Tech (serious geek) side. I get frustrated not being able to make my blog look as nice as I want, but on the other hand, peer-to-peer collaborative events like #yzfbarcamp are a lot of fun, and I really enjoy learning those geeky bits.

Who do you write for? Yourself? Your Readers? Google? For a living?

Well, for the world. Seriously. My blogging is giving fuel, in my own little way, to this brave new world of social media. It’s almost like this parallel universe, and I want that universe to be as vibrant and colourful and engaging as possible. I hope I’m contributing to that.

You are known as the Money Coach, how did that come to be?

For the past several years I had my own business helping people manage their money – spend appropriately, get out of debt, create budgets, save, define for themselves what is important to spend money on, and what is a waste for them. I loved my work, but I needed a break. It will resurrect though! And in the meantime, I still like blogging, and tweeting about the topic.

Do you or would you ever censor yourself?

There’s always the tension of voicing opinions and having personality yet writing with diplomacy and respect for others’ sensitivities. This was more acute when I was blogging in part to attract and engage clients. I had to decide that I was going to show my political stripes (green) and that I’m religious (high Anglican) even if it cost me readers and business. In that way, blogging forces intention and integrity. So I don’t think I “censor” myself, per se, but I do care about my readers and I care about my opinions and integrity, and both shape what I choose to write.

PC or Mac?

Mac. ’nuff said.

Blogs you read or would recommend?

Well I’m sure enjoying all the blogs up here in the NWT.

I’m increasingly interested in Canada’s public policy about the web – it’s being created right now, and what you and I say and think about it matters – so I am spending more time reading blogs like Eaves, MichaelGeist, and CPSR. There are many more!

Are you originally from Yellowknife? Or what made you decide to move here?
Yep, born and grew up here.